Sneak preview of Del Cap

Although the $1 million Delaware Handicap is nearly three months away, a couple of potential candidates for that 1 1/4-mile race could be on display in the $50,000 Winter Melody.

The 1 1/16-mile overnight stakes drew Friel's for Real, a 6-year-old mare with nearly $500,000 in earnings, and horse-for-the-course Summer Rainbow.

Friel's for Real, 11-for-25 lifetime, won two stakes last season and was fourth in the 2005 Delaware Handicap. In her lone start this year, Friel's for Real just missed in the 1 1/16-mile Florida Breeders' Distaff at the Ocala Training Center.

Summer Rainbow owns a 5-for-7 record at Delaware, including a win in a similar overnight stakes last October. The only previous time she faced Friel's for Real, in last year's Maryland Racing Media Handicap, Summer Rainbow was beaten 5 3/4 lengths by her.

A wet track would enhance the chances of Princess Pelona. She is 3 for 4 over wet surfaces and comes off a 3 1/4-length win in the one-mile Snow Goose at Laurel earlier this month.

Jockey Tony Black, who came into Saturday's program three wins away from 5,000 for his career, will ride Dance Fee, who defeated Summer Rainbow in an overnight stakes at Delaware last November but was twice beaten by Summer Rainbow last fall and finished far behind Princess Pelona in her only start this year.