Never Gone South, Morning Fire meet again in Strike Your Colors

It appears that the path to success in the $50,000 Strike Your Colors Stakes at Delaware Park on Wednesday runs through Parx Racing.

The Strike Your Colors, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds, has drawn a competitive field of eight from Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The Parx runners Never Gone South and Morning Fire have already met once, with Never Gone South taking Round 1 by a wide margin. The difference between the two could tighten up in the Strike Your Colors.

Never Gone South, trained by Cathal Lynch, won his June 21 debut by 3 3/4 lengths over stablemate Spillwright. It was another 7 1/2 lengths back to Morning Fire in third.

Morning Fire came back to run an improved race in his second start, defeating Spillwright by a neck. Spillwright then came back to win a maiden race of his own, validating the form of both Never Gone South and Morning Fire.

Never Gone South, a son of Munnings, was sold at auction three times before he ever started. He brought $52,000 as a weanling at the 2013 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, $38,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale, and $90,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in April.

Never Gone South races for the M M G Racing Stable, which bought him in Ocala, Fla. The 67 Beyer Speed Figure that Never Gone South earned for his maiden win is the highest figure in this field.

Strike Your Colors Stakes, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Never Gone South (Last Beyer: 67)

◗ He has worked four times since his debut score and will be ridden by Trevor McCarthy on Wednesday. Look for him to go to the lead.

Morning Fire (Last 2 Beyers: 58-32)

◗ In his maiden win, he pressed the early pace outside of Spillwright but could not keep up nearing the stretch as Spillwright drew clear. He steadied briefly as Spillwright drifted inward in front of him in midstretch, then leveled off nicely to get up late. It will be interesting to see if he can take another step forward for trainer Keith Nations.

Patrick Rocks (Last 3 Beyers: 54-57-24)

◗ Improved markedly in his second start to win a Pimlico maiden race, then was third, beaten 7 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs for Maryland trainer Jerry Robb. He fits well with this group.

Grecian Prince (Last 3 Beyers: 56-54-40)

◗ He has closed well in all three of his career starts for Maryland trainer Robert Leaf Jr. He gets a little more distance to work with here, which works in his favor.