A Little Warm to make return at Delaware

A Little Warm, runner-up in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in his last start on March 27, will return to the races Tuesday in a second-level optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles at Delaware Park.

Trained by Anthony Dutrow, A Little Warm finished second in the Grade 2 Hutcheson to D' Funnybone and won the Spectacular Bid at Gulfstream Park with a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in his only other starts this season. In the 13-horse Louisiana Derby, A Little Warm went to the front and stayed there until passed by winner Mission Impazible in deep stretch. He finished three-quarters of a length behind the winner and was neck in front of third-place finisher Drosselmeyer, winner of the Belmont Stakes.

A Little Warm had been targeting the May 15 Preakness Stakes, but missed that race after an unsatisfactory endoscopic exam. He has worked four times since May 30, including a five-furlong drill in 1:03.20 on Wednesday at Delaware Park.

"We feel good about him coming into the race on Tuesday," Dutrow said. "Obviously, this race will have him ready to go off to bigger and better things in his next race, whatever that may be."

John Velazquez will come in to ride A Little Warm.

Also part of the 10-horse field is Miner's Reserve, a sharp entry-level allowance winner on May 31 at Belmont Park for trainer Nick Zito.