Delaware Park: Solar Storm logical choice as she moves through conditions

Several strong angles shout out that Solar Storm will be difficult to beat in Monday’s sprint feature at Delaware Park.

The eighth race, a second-level optional $40,000 claimer, drew a field of six fillies and mares going 5 1/2 furlongs.

Solar Storm, one of two 3-year-olds in the lineup, takes the next logical step after winning a first-level optional $40,000 claimer by 2 1/4 lengths on Sept. 5, earning an 81 Beyer Speed Figure, in just her third career start. Two of the five horses she beat in that 5 1/2-furlong sprint came back to win their next starts, including fifth-place Joyous Music, who earned an 87 Beyer for her victory in an allowance last Thursday night at Charles Town.

In addition, trainer Tony Dutrow has exceptional statistics with female sprinters coming back in 31 to 60 days off a winning effort with a career-best Beyer. He is 22 for 50 (44 percent) with a $2.64 return on investment in that category.

Solar Storm, listed at 9-5 on the track’s morning line, has the pedigree to be a good sprinter. Her dam, Stellar, won 3 of 8 dirt sprints, including a $100,000 stakes at Santa Anita with a 97 Beyer.

A pair of 5-year-old mares, both in for the optional $40,000 tag, appear to have the best shot at foiling the logical favorite.

Sophia, trained and partially owned by Steve Klesaris, may simply need a fast track to regain her good form. Her Beyers have tailed off in her last three races while she raced on turf, Tapeta, and slop.

In contrast, the last time she caught a fast track, in June, Sophia led wire to wire in a six-furlong second-level optional $50,000 claimer at Belmont Park. She will be reunited with Rosie Napravnik, who guided her to a second-place finish going six furlongs at Delaware in early June.

Like Candy was claimed out of a winning effort for $20,000 by Penn National-based trainer Tim Kreiser. In her first outing for Kreiser, Like Candy missed by three-quarters of a length in a $35,000 claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs. Both of those good performances were at Delaware. Over the past five years, Kreiser is 16 for 86 (19 percent) with a $2.38 ROI with horses making their second start off the claim.