Stallwalkin’ Dude looks to stay close early in LeVine
Stallwalkin’ Dude had a four-race winning streak snapped last out when he closed belatedly to finish second in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont Park. To avoid a similar scenario in the $100,000 Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap at Parx Racing on Saturday, he will have to keep A. P. Indian within reach early.
Stallwalkin’ Dude has thrived since being claimed by David Jacobson last September for $16,000 and since then has won 7 of 13 starts and $340,150. He will carry the high weight of 123 pounds in the LeVine and concede four to 11 pounds to his eight rivals in the seven-furlong handicap.
Stallwalkin’ Dude has early speed but will be hard pressed to keep up with the razor-sharp A. P. Indian. He also will have to overcome the inside post.
A. P. Indian has come into his own at age 5. Transferred to Fair Hill-based Arnaud Delacour last September, A. P. Indian has returned from more than a year away from the races to win 2 of 3 starts, including his stakes debut last time out at Monmouth Park. He went right to the lead in the Decathlon and won by almost three lengths while earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.
The LeVine will be A. P. Indian’s first start at seven furlongs. He has wins at six and 6 1/2 furlongs this year, with a nose defeat going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland in between.
“I am pretty excited about this horse,” Delacour said. “I think he will like seven-eighths. He ran well going a mile and a sixteenth around two turns, but maybe that was a little far for him.”
If A. P. Indian runs well in the LeVine, Delacour said he will consider the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga as a possible next start. The $350,000 Vanderbilt is a six-furlong race Aug. 1.
Key contenders
A. P. Indian (Last 3 Beyers: 105-102-89)
* He is well drawn in post 9 and looks to have the best early speed in the field.
Stallwalkin’ Dude (Last 3 Beyers: 100-100-103)
* Rock Fall, to whom he was second in the True North, now has won five consecutive races for Todd Pletcher.
Coup de Grace (Last 3 Beyers: 79-87-79)
* He has disappointed as the favorite in both of his starts this year. Trainer Larry Jones removes blinkers from his equipment for this race.
Dream Saturday (Last 3 Beyers: 97-90-95)
* He runs well fresh, and trainer Michelle Nevin has given him seven workouts since he finished third April 4 in the Grade 1 Carter.
Res Judicata (Last 3 Beyers: 90-88-86)
* This will be his first start since being injured in a training accident Sept. 20 at Parx. A loose horse barreled into his side while he was standing still, knocking him hard to the ground.