Delgado takes patient approach with Morea
Trainer Gustavo Delgado had a choice to make this weekend with his up-and-coming 4-year-old filly Morea: Either take on more seasoned competition in Saturday’s Sea Lily Stakes or opt for a much softer spot on Sunday, a $43,000 optional-claiming dash that serves as the main event on the 10-race program at Gulfstream Park.
Morea was entered in both races but was expected to scratch from the Sea Lily, where she is listed as a 12-1 outsider on the morning line, to face six rivals as the likely favorite in Sunday’s six-furlong headliner.
Morea is coming off a 5 1/4-length wire-to-wire maiden win May 15, for which she received a career-best 78 Beyer Speed Figure. The well-bred daughter of Indian Charlie is a half-sister to Weep No More, who captured the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland this spring.
“She’s improving with every start,” said Delgado. “Being a half-sister to a Grade 1 winner, obviously we have high hopes for her, and we really don’t want to rush her right now.”
Morea is one of two fillies Delgado entered in the race, along with Tripocha, who returned from a 13 1/2-month layoff to defeat midlevel conditioned claimers by 5 1/2 lengths on March 31 before finishing a distant fourth while stepping up into allowance company six weeks later.
Blame Dixie and Little Daniella own an experience edge over both Delgado runners and should not be taken lightly.
Blame Dixie returns to the main track after finishing fourth under similar conditions going five furlongs on turf April 21. A popular item at the claim box this season, she’s already changed barns four times. Blame Dixie brings a record of three wins in nine starts into the race.
Little Daniella is a six-time winner who has captured one of six starts since being haltered by trainer Sandino Hernandez for $16,000 out of a win on the grass here last fall.
Key Contenders
Morea, by Indian Charlie
Last 3 Beyers: 78-69-57
◗ By scratching out of the Sea Lily and running Sunday, Morea would be able to retain the services of Emisael Jaramillo, who has ridden Morea in her last two starts. Jaramillo is named aboard the favored Best Behavior in the stakes on Saturday.
Blame Dixie, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 74-65-73
◗ She had won three of her four starts by an average of about four lengths prior to her try on turf last time, her first race at the allowance level.