Peck: How I'd play Delaware for Saturday, July 18

The marquee race of the Delaware Park meet is the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap, and the pick four ending with that event looks very playable indeed:

RACE 7: Really like MY TEAM (#6) as the main speed in the Kent, but not enough to hang the whole piñata on him. So I will also include SYNTAX (#5), an impressive winner of a Belmont allowance last time despite slow fractions up front, as well as ALL I KARABOUT (#8), who was second behind Syntax in that first-level allowance as the favorite.

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A's: 6

B's: 5, 8

C's: NONE

RACE 8: STALLWALKIN' DUDE (#7) is going to be a handful as the favorite, but FAST ANNA (#5) is dangerous as the primary speed. He's going to be tough to catch if allowed to shake loose. These are the two favorites, and while it's usually best to take a stand with one in pick four plays they are too tough to separate.

A's: 5, 7

B's: NONE

C's: NONE

RACE 9: Looking for the best closers in this turf route, which seems to feature a good deal of pace. That includes OXFORD STREET (#2), S S SKITTLES (#5), BIG JOHNNY D (#11) and BACK AWAY (#12.

A's: 2, 11

B's: 5, 12

C's:

RACE 10: The 78th running of the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap drew a fairly competitive field but not one that's long on speed. FRIVOLOUS (#1) is a question mark at the distance but she has some early zip and the benefit of the rail. SHEER DRAMA (#5) chased Frivolous home last time at Churchill but figures to be closer to the pace here, given the expected race flow. FLASHY AMERICAN (#4) can close if need be, and that will give her the edge on the stone closers if the race shapes up as expected.

A's: 1, 5

B's: 4

C's: NONE