Turf conditions will play a major role in Kent Stakes outcome

Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park features an evenly matched group of 3-year-old turf horses traveling 1 1/8 miles on turf. Now if only Mother Nature will cooperate.

The prospect of adverse weather concerns Wesley Ward, trainer of Like the King.

“I’m not quite sure he liked the soft turf,” Ward said Thursday about Like the King’s last start, a fifth as the favorite in the Audubon. “He didn’t breeze as well on the soft as he did on the firm.”

Chris Landeros gets the return call on Like the King.

Gershwin, a Distorted Humor half-brother to Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide, starts only if the Kent is washed to the main track, per trainer Michael Stidham.

“Since he won the Grade 3 [off-the-turf Penn Mile] on the dirt, we’re probably going to keep him on the dirt,” Stidham said. “We’re looking at this if it comes off and we’re going to cross-enter into the Dwyer [on Monday].”

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Joe Bravo was named to ride Gershwin, but trainer Kelly Breen expects the Bravo to leapfrog onto Yes This Time if Gershwin scratches. A winner of four straight at Gulfstream, Yes This Time “is a really nice horse, very versatile” said Breen.

The potential for wet turf doesn’t concern Breen. “He’s been on hard turf, soft turf, he’s done it all. He’s antsy to run and sitting on go,” Breen said.

Wootton Asset, stakes-placed over yielding going last fall, makes his 3-year-old debut in the Kent.

“I think it’s tougher to come back off the layoff on softer ground,” said trainer Graham Motion, “but I do feel like I’ve gotten plenty of miles in him so hopefully he’s tight enough.”

Wootton Asset began his career in France before being privately purchased by Madaket Stables and transferred to Motion.

“He’s grown a lot from last year to this,” Motion said. “It’s a bit of an ambitious spot to come back in, but we don’t have many options being that he’s won two races.”

Alapocas Run

Just like Old Man River, 9-year-old Always Sunshine keeps rolling along, much to the delight of trainer Ned Allard. “He’s certainly one of my favorites,” Allard said as he prepared the Grade 3 winner for the $50,000 Alapocas Run at six furlongs.

“He’s had a lot of minor issues that prevented him from running more often, but he’s a big, good-looking horse that has been lucky enough to maintain his class. You’d think he’s a 6-year-old the way he acts and the way he runs.”

Always Sunshine’s form backs up Allard’s words. The West Acre gelding popped a 101 Beyer against $50,000 claimers at Belmont before finishing third in the Mr. Prospector over sloppy going at Monmouth.

“Turning for home, I thought we had the winner measured,” Allard said of the Mr. Prospector. “He tried to get by him, and he couldn’t, and I think it took a little starch out of him.”

Always Sunshine must be on his game if he is to defeat Whereshetoldmetogo. Trained by Brittany Russell, the El Padrino gelding had a three-race win streak snapped when the beaten favorite in the Frank Whiteley.

Whereshetoldmetogo had his heels clipped from behind in the Whiteley and never factored.

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“To be honest with you, he bled a bit, which he’s never done on us before,” Russell told Daily Racing Form on May 5. “Probably the trip and a stressful situation.”

Golden Candy earned a career-best 94 Beyer winning his second start of the year at Parx last month. “Since we gave him time, he’s come around to be a little better than he was last year,” said trainer Anthony Pecoraro. “I don’t think he likes the slop too much, however.”

Christiana Stakes

Caldee and Mia Martina head the $75,000 Christiana Stakes for 3-year-old fillies scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

They have different running styles. Caldee likes to be forwardly placed, as in her recent win at Belmont.

“She sat off a horse nicely,” said trainer Brad Cox. “It gives you confidence moving forward that she’s not a need-the-lead type.”

Cox noted that the chance for a wet turf course is “a little bit of a concern.”

Mia Martina is a one-run closer that was caught up in traffic when fourth in the Hilltop on May 14.

“She had a tough trip,” said Motion. “She got stuck down on the rail and couldn’t get out.”

Motion claimed he’s “not too worried” about the ground situation. “I think she’ll handle it.”

Out of Sorts, an in-form late-kicker trained by Russell, has impressed since being switched to turf and can threaten if the pace is swift.