Wet conditions at Delaware Park for the Grade 3 Kent Stakes should favour Willcoxx Inn
It has been raining throughout the week and the possibility of heavy rain on race day in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes $250,000 at Delaware Park on 24 September, 2011, would mean that the race will either be run on soft turf or mud.
The 1 1/8 mile race for 3-year-olds will most likely favour the Michael Stidham trained Willcox Inn, because the non-firm turf shouldn’t bother the morning line favourite.
The son of Harlan’s Holiday, out of De Arr by Gone West, had been doing well at Arlington Park in his 3 previous races on its turf course, and his first race over at the New York race course was the 1 1/16 mile long $ 100,000 Arlington Classic.
With the yielding ground on 28 May, 2011, suited Willcox Inn the best out of the lot, and he was able to post his first win of the season in wet conditions, beating his closest rivals Suntracer and Extensive, with the winning time of 1 minute and 49.51 seconds.
The E. Gaudet trained 3-year-old colt Concealed Identity could have a problem running on the soft turf, because the second place finisher in the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes, doesn’t have any experience on grass, and if the surface is switched, he might benefit
from it.
Talking about local horses at Delaware Park, Wild Jacob, could have a chance, as he has shown that he can do well and has won under such conditions, he also won a six furlong dash at the Prairie Meadows over a track labelled good in April.
However, with blinkers on, Willcox Inn has shown progress by shooting up his Beyer speed from 87 to 99, and with the wet conditions on display the advantage would shift to Willcox Inn.
It seems as if the blinkers help Willcox Inn to focus a little better on the race, and after the adjustment the colt has really improved and grown in stature as a thoroughbred runner.
His Arlington Park rival Casino Host is in the lineup as well, but he too like many others has his problems with the wet surface.
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