Delaware Park: Comedero gets up late in Moscarelli

Comedero improved his record to 10 wins in 14 starts and a perfect 2 for 2 in 2011 with a half-length win in Saturday’s $79,050 Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park.

Comedero, ridden by jockey Cliff Berry, got off to a quick start but was content to sit in third just off pacesetter Nathan’s H.Q. and Sneaking Uponyou through early splits of 22.39 and 44.59 seconds in the six-furlong dash. Comedero made a three-wide move on the turn and then battled Nathan’s H.Q. through the stretch, pulling ahead late.

Nathan’s H.Q., coming off a three-quarter-length third to Capt. Candyman Can in Gulfstream Park’s Sir Shackleton Handicap, held second by three-quarters of a length over a late-charging Billy One Lite who had been blocked between rivals on the turn.

Comedero, owned by Peter Redekop B C Ltd. and trained by Michael Stidham, covered the distance in 1:08.85 over a fast track. He returned $4.60 as the favorite in the scratch-reduced field of eight.

The win pushed Comedero’s career bankroll to $623,300.