Exotics plays for the Delaware Handicap on July 10

Seven fillies and mares will go 1 1/4 miles on the Delaware Park dirt in Saturday’s $400,000 Delaware H. (G2). I have most interest in the one-two finishers from the 2020 Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2), and will base all of my wagers around that duo.

The Jimmy Ryerson-trained #6 Miss Marissa (6-1) is winless from a trio of attempts following her big score at Pimlico in October, but the four-year-old has been in good form this campaign with a pair of runner-up finishes. The daughter of He’s Had Enough was a stubborn second in the Ladies H. when making her seasonal debut, which was followed by a runner-up showing in the local prep for this affair, the Obeah S.

Miss Marissa has done some of her best work at nine panels, and her running style suggests that she could benefit from the extra furlong on Saturday. Equipped with natural early speed, the Kentucky-bred will receive a favorable trip while forwardly placed throughout, and I like her to peak in her third outing of the season, too. The gray will have Daniel Centeno in the controls once again, and they will edge to the front in early stretch before holding off the closing types.

Brad Cox’s #5 Bonny South (3-2) is the class of the field and will be tough to upend if she puts her best foot forward. Juddmonte homebred has faced some top competition with impressive results, shown by her second-place finish behind the white-hot Letruska in the Ogden Phipps S. (G1) at Belmont Park in her most recent appearance. Munnings four-year-old was a fine second in the prestigious 2020 Alabama S. (G1) in her lone prior showing at 10 furlongs, and the chestnut may be moving best of all in the stretch with Florent Geroux in the silks.

I will key #2 Queen Nekia (3-1) underneath in a few of my deeper vertical exotics, as well. One of two in the field for Saffie Joseph, the Harlington mare was dusted in the Ogden Phipps going around one-turn most recently, but she is a grinder who makes sense to me on the stretch out to 1 1/4 miles. The dark bay six-year-old will be rallying from off the pace with Sheldon Russell in the irons.

Delaware Handicap Wagers

• $10 exacta box: 5-6 ($20)
• $2 trifecta: 5,6 with 5,6 with all ($10)
• $1 superfecta: 5,6 with 5,6 with 2 with all ($8)
• $1 superfecta: 5,6 with 5,6 with all with 2 ($8)