Peck: Delaware Park pick three for Saturday, July 15

The ninth race on Saturday's Delaware Park card is, of course, the centerpiece of the meet, the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap, but with prohibitive favorite Songbird seemingly unbeatable, I'll look elsewhere on the program for value. I landed on a midcard pick three covering races 6-8.

RACE 6: NO DISTORTION seems to be poised for an improved effort after he was against the race flow two back and in against a very sharp next-out winner in his return. He's the sole "A," with SEA RAVEN and DISCREET LOVER the main backups and ADIRONDACK KING and TWOCUBANBROTHERSU used to a lesser extent.
A's: 8
B's: 3, 4
C's: 2, 7

RACE 7: DEBT CEILING makes his 2017 debut, but he has high speed and could prove a threat despite the layoff. CHIEF LION has been involved with unfavorable race flows in four of his last five starts – and he won the other race with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. EIGHTY THREE and NEVER GONE SOUTH are also appealing and will be used as "B's."
A's: 3, 7
B's: 1, 2
C's: NONE

RACE 8: THE TORTOISE could be the controlling speed in a relatively paceless Kent Stakes, and he figures to be a huge price. HOT AND HEAVY is the other main pace candidate. MASTER PLAN could benefit most if those two were to hook up in a duel. FROSTMOURNE could be overbet, but I won't let him beat me.
A's: 4, 5, 7
B's: 6
C's: NONE

:: See Kenny Peck's pick-three ticket in DRF TicketMaker and bet it with DRF Bets.