Farrell to skip Delaware Handicap

Trainer Wayne Catalano said Wednesday he would not be shipping Farrell to Delaware Park for this Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Delaware Handicap.

Farrell, a confirmed front-runner, is based at Churchill Downs. A four-time Grade 2 winner, Farrell is coming off runner-up placings in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis and the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill. She may have gone off the third choice in the Del Cap behind expected favorites Elate and Unbridled Mo.

Catalano said the race “looked a little cluttered” for his filly.

The now-eight-horse field includes a trio of longshots owned by Ron Paolucci and trained by Anthony Quartarolo. Proper Discretion and Nikki My Darling have speed, while Fuhriously Kissed, who will add blinkers, does her best running late.

The Del Cap lineup also includes Grade 2 La Canada winner Mopotism; Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks winner Teresa Z, who is coming off a win in the Obeah at Delaware; and Obeah third-place finisher Sneaky Betty.

Unbridled Mo, the winner of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom during the Racing Festival of the South at Oaklawn Park for Todd Pletcher, is the 120-pound highweight in the 1 1/4-mile race for fillies and mares. She will concede three to eight pounds to her opponents.

Elate, who could go favored for Bill Mott, will be making her first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Last year at 3, she defeated older rivals in the Grade 1 Beldame, won the Grade 1 Alabama, and finished second by a head to Abel Tasman in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.