School House looks to regain form in starter allowance

A pair of horses with stakes wins in 2013 – one at the Grade 3 level – are part of an intriguing lineup of 11 older horses in a starter allowance Wednesday at Delaware Park.

School House, winner of an overnight stakes on turf in his final start last year, and Raging Doust, who upset the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at 33-1 a year ago, will look to snap season-long losing streaks in a race scheduled for a mile and 70 yards on turf.

The sixth race, which goes at 3:34 p.m. Eastern, is open to horses who have started for a claiming price of $20,000 or less and have never won four races or are winless this year.

Although School House and Raging Doust have not been close to winning in a combined nine starts this season, the 7-year-old School House is the more likely candidate to wake up in this spot. He has been facing far better grass horses at Monmouth Park and owns a 3-for-9 record on Delaware’s turf course. In contrast, Raging Doust’s only previous race on turf was a non-competitive performance in a five-furlong sprint at Arlington four years ago.

A year ago, School House went 3 for 6, including wins at Delaware in a second-level optional $25,000 claimer and the With Anticipation Stakes.

The field also includes Manacor, who won a high-priced claiming route on turf at Belmont Park and a steeplechase at Saratoga in back-to-back starts this summer; and Arion Silver, who steps up in class wins against claiming company in two of his last three races.

Race 6

KEY CONTENDERS

School House (Last 3 Beyers: 72-60-59)

This 7-year-old hasn’t been competitive in four starts this season, but has been facing better horses than he will meet in this spot. The horse who nosed him out for sixth a month ago, Diana’s Vendetta, returned to finish second in a $7,500 starter with a 72 Beyer Speed Figure and followed up with a good third, worth a 79 Beyer, in a second-level allowance.

Manacor (Last 3 Beyers: 0-0-82)

Returns 13 days after being eased going 1 ¼ miles on opening day of Belmont’s fall meet. Previous two races were wins in $50,000 conditioned claimer at Belmont and 2 1/16-mile steeplechase at Saratoga. Owns five lifetime wins, but two of those came in jump events.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer James Day is 4 for 26 (15 percent) the last five years in turf faces at Delaware. In all turf routes with horses returning in 14 days or less, however, Day is just 5 for 65 (8 percent).

Capital Fellow (Last 3 Beyers: 68-56-74)

Looks to rebound after two off-the-board performances as part of six-race winless streak this season. Last victory came going a mile in an optional $25,000 claimer at Laurel.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Mark Shuman is 3 for 41 (7 percent) in turf races at Delaware the last five years.

Arion Silver (Last 3 Beyers: 75-73-74)

Shows the best form this year with 2 wins and a second in 3 starts. He also projects as the controlling speed from the far outside under Jose Caraballo. Gets tested for class after beating $7,500 and $16,000 conditioned claimers.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Mike Pino is 5 for 20 (25 percent) with last-out winners returning in 30 days or less in a turf route.