Delaware Park's two isolated horses doing fine

The two horses in isolation at Delaware Park were both doing well Saturday, according to John Mooney, the executive director of racing at Delaware Park.

The first horse, who had tested positive for the “strangles” bacteria, originally had a stiff neck, nasal discharge, and a temperature but is no longer displaying those symptoms. The other, who had tested negative for the strangles bacteria, according to Mooney, had a temperature, but it has subsided.

“We’ll just have to wait and let this situation play out,” Mooney said.

Kentucky has dropped its shipping restrictions on horses from Delaware, according to Mooney, and horses racing there today, which include runners from the barns of Brad Cox and Ian Wilkes, will be allowed to return home.

As long as no other horses get sick, Monmouth Park’s shipping restrictions on Delaware will be lifted next Saturday, according to director of racing John Heims. The Maryland Jockey Club, via a group text, said it will drop restrictions on Delaware next Sunday.

Saturday’s card at Delaware, which includes five stakes, three of them graded, had some scratches but held together surprisingly well.

Next Saturday’s card is the pinnacle of the Delaware season and will include the Grade 2, $750,000 Delaware Handicap and four $100,000 stakes that are part of the MATCH Series.

“Everything is a go for next weekend,” Mooney said.

The New York Racing Association has not yet announced when it will lift its Delaware restrictions, but trainer Bill Mott is expected to send Elate to Delaware next Saturday to defend her title in the Delaware Handicap. Others expected for the Del Cap include Blue Prize, She’s a Julie, Another Broad, Escape Clause, and Gotham Gala, if she does not race in the Robert G. Dick later today.