Jacobson runners stand out on undercard

Trainer David Jacobson holds a strong hand at Delaware Park on Saturday when he sends in Stallwalkin’ Dude for the $75,000 Hockessin Stakes and Hoffenheim for the $50,000 Carl Hanford Memorial.

Jacobson has named Carol Cedeno aboard both his horses. On Wednesday, Cedeno won seven races at Delaware to set a record for wins in a day by a jockey. She has a comfortable lead in the rider standings as she shoots for her fourth title in the last five years.

The six-furlong Hockessin (Ho-Kess-In) is the third of five legs in the MATCH Series dirt-sprint division, which is wide open. Stallwalkin’ Dude is the most accomplished member of the 11-horse field but faces a tough cast that includes Chublicious, Recruiting Ready, The Man, and Always Sunshine.

Stallwalkin’ Dude returned from a seven-month farm vacation with a third-place finish in a high-level optional-claiming race at Belmont Park in June. With that race under his belt, the late-running winner of 20 races should take a big step forward Saturday.

While Stallwalkin’ Dude will be saving his best running for the stretch, Chublicious and Recruiting Ready are fast. Chublicious is coming off a win in the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park – the second leg of the MATCH Series. Recruiting Ready is dropping in class after tiring to fifth in the Grade 2 True North Stakes at Belmont Park.

The Man also has good speed, which could help set the table for Stallwalkin’ Dude or longshot Always Sunshine.

Jacobson sent Hoffenheim to Delaware for a high-level optional claimer two weeks ago and he defeated four-time stakes winner Afleet Willy by 2 1/2 lengths going the same 1 1/16-mile distance as the Hanford Memorial.

Hoffenheim, whom Jacobson claimed for $40,000 in January, earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in that race, a repeat of which would make him difficult to beat. Hoffenheim is fast and should take it to his rivals on the lead in the Hanford.

Name Changer is 2 for 2 since returning from an 11-month layoff in May. Name Changer, trained by Alan Goldberg, has back class, having finished third in the 2016 West Virginia Derby and having won the 2017 Richard Small Stakes at Laurel Park.

In his last start, Name Changer scored by 2 1/2 lengths in a high-level optional claimer at Delaware Park going a mile. The second- and third-place finishers from that race, Even Thunder and Twocubanbrothersu, are both also in the Hanford.

A sleeper in the field could be Monongahela, who will return from a five-month layoff for trainer Kelly Rubley. Monongahela finished fourth and fifth to Afleet Willy when he was at the top of his game last winter in the Native Dancer and John B. Campbell stakes.

Prince of Hempt suffered his first loss from five starts when making his comeback following a seven-month layoff two weeks ago at Laurel Park. He should be tighter for trainer Tim Kreiser on Saturday.