Delaware Park: Concealed Identity, J W Blue meet again in Floor Show Stakes

Concealed Identity, far back as a 25-1 outsider in the Preakness, and J W Blue, who finished in the midpack of both the Grade 2 Rebel and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at astronomical odds, renew their rivalry in Monday’s $50,000 Floor Show Stakes at Delaware Park.

Five weeks ago, Concealed Identity defeated J W Blue by 2 1/4 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Federico Tesio at Pimlico. Their rematch comes at the same distance as the Tesio.

Based at the Bowie training center with trainer Eddie Gaudet, Concealed Identity will be racing outside Maryland for the first time while making his 10th lifetime start. In addition to the Tesio, Concealed Identity won the Maryland Juvenile Championship last December.

J W Blue, locally based with trainer Tony Dutrow, will be racing at his home track for the first time since winning his maiden going a mile last October. His best race in four starts this year came when he captured a first-level allowance at Oaklawn Park in late January.

Among the five other 3-year-olds in Monday’s race, Eltheeb looks most dangerous. His bid for three wins in a row was spoiled last time out when he broke slowly and was bumped at the start of a second-level optional $32,000 claimer at his home track, Monmouth Park. He still managed to earn an 85 Beyer Speed Figure, just two points shy of his career high for a win in a first-level allowance at Aqueduct.

In comparison, Concealed Identity recorded an 86 for his win in the Tesio, four points higher than J W Blue got for his third-place finish that day.

The field also includes The Ole Gen, third in the $100,000 Rushaway on Turfway Park’s Polytrack, and Line Change, who won 4 of his first 6 starts before finishing fourth in his stakes debut last time out in the Spend a Buck at Monmouth Park.

◗ Pashito the Che, idle since finishing last in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, makes his 2011 debut in Monday’s second race, a six-furlong, third-level optional $55,000 claimer. Now 5, Pashito the Che is 3 for 3 at Delaware, including a win in an overnight stakes in October.

◗ Tempted to Tapit, second in last year’s Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, will make his first start since finishing third in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby on March 28, 2010, in Monday’s fifth race, a first-level optional $16,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles. The 4-year-old Tempted to Tapit has been working well for trainer Steve Klesaris at Fair Hill, most notably a 59-second move from the gate June 7.