Delaware Park: Inside spots hold edge

Considering that five of the eight 3-year-old fillies entered in Wednesday’s $50,000 Walking in Da Sun overnight stakes at Delaware Park finished first or second in their most recent outing, there’s no shortage of good form on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces. That also makes for a wide range of possibilities for handicappers trying to pin down the right horse.

The two strongest credentials belong to the fillies who will break from posts 1 and 2 in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, partly because inside posts are preferable in turf routes at Delaware that begin from a chute.

The rail horse, Filare l’Oro, has been first and second since trainer John Robb switched her to the grass following eight starts on dirt. Making her first start since November, Filare l’Oro outran her 33-1 odds to finish second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in a nonwinners-of-three allowance locally. From a small sampling, Robb is 2 for 7 (28 percent) with turf runners making their second start off a layoff.

Appealing Cat, part of an uncoupled entry for trainer Graham Motion, comes out of a four-length win on Tapeta at Presque isle Downs on May 31. Motion is 5 for 18 (28 percent) with last-out winners on a synthetic surface switching to turf following a layoff of 31 to 60 days.

True Feelings will be trying turf and going beyond seven furlongs for the first time, but her last-out win as the 1-5 favorite at Parx and her pedigree indicate she may appreciate a switch to the grass. Her dam, Grand Charger, won the Grade 3 Pucker Up on turf in 1995.

Motion’s other entrant, Zucchini Flower, responded with one of the best Beyer Speed Figures of her career (77) when she finished fifth in her turf debut in an overnight stakes at Belmont Park. The winner of that race, Medolina, is unbeaten in three starts.

Seanchi, who won her career debut going 1 1/16 miles on turf at Tampa Bay Downs, comes off back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Hilltop at Pimlico and a first-level allowance locally. Her trainer, Leigh Delacour, is 10 for 51 (21 percent) the past two years with turf runners who finished in the money last time out returning after a short layoff.

Masquerade looked good beating maiden special weight rivals going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Parx. The downside is trainer Steve Klesaris is 1 for 21 with last-out winners on turf.