Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Cape Henlopen Stakes trifecta

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for a trio of stakes on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Delaware Park and Horseshoe Indianapolis, along with a horse to single in Delaware’s $6,211 Pick 5 carryover.

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Delaware Park: Race 7: Cape Henlopen S. (1 1/2 miles on turf, 3:30 p.m. ET)

The two key contenders in this 1 1/2-mile turf contest are #3 The Grey Wizard (8-5) and #2 Limited Liability (2-1), who were separated by a neck when finishing first and third in the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup (G2) on June 6 at Saratoga.

Both The Grey Wizard and Limited Liability have placed in graded stakes over 1 1/2 miles, so cutting back in distance shouldn’t compromise their chances. Let’s box them in the top two slots of a trifecta while adding #6 English Conqueror (3-1) for third place.

Selections

• #3 The Grey Wizard (8-5)
• #2 Limited Liability (2-1)
• #6 English Conqueror (3-1)

Wagers

• $10 Trifecta: 2,3 with 2,3 with 6 ($20)

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 7: Peony H. (1 1/16 miles on turf, 5:16 p.m. ET)

#5 Sand and Sea (6-1) hasn’t run much on turf as of late, but last fall she finished second and third in a pair of allowance contests on grass at Kentucky Downs and Keeneland. On both occasions she was defeated by R Calli Kim, who went on to take the Long Island (G3) and The Very One (G3).

Now Sand and Sea is squaring off against fellow Indiana-breds in the Peony. The speedy six-year-old mare appears well spotted to vie for victory at solid odds, so let’s place a win bet and play her over defending Peony winner #4 Louder Than Words (9-2) in a small exacta.

Selections

• #5 Sand and Sea (6-1)
• #4 Louder Than Words (9-2)
• #7 Bluelightspecial (5-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #5 Sand and Sea
• $5 Exacta: 5 with 4
  Total: $30

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 8: Bucchero H. (1 1/16 miles on turf, 5:47 p.m. ET)

#9 Strong Tide (8-5), a veteran of 44 starts, has gone 4-for-8 over the Horseshoe Indianapolis lawn. Those four wins include a half-length triumph in the 2023 Bucchero H.

But Strong Tide has also proved his worth against graded stakes competition. He finished third in the 2023 Man o’ War (G1), and his last three starts have yielded a second in the Louisville (G3), a third in the Wise Dan (G2), and a third in the Bowling Green (G2).

Dropping back down in class should allow Strong Tide to snatch a second Bucchero win. We’ll keep things simple with a large win bet on Strong Tide.

Selections

• #9 Strong Tide (8-5)
• #11 Demolisher (10-1)
• #3 Zolo (8-1)

Wagers

• $35 to win on #9 Strong Tide

Carryover Watch

Delaware Park: Race 4: $6,211 Pick 5 carryover (2 p.m. ET)

The betting menu for Wednesday’s card at Delaware Park includes a trio of Pick 5s. The 50-cent Late Pick 5 looks like the best of the lot thanks to its non-jackpot $6,211 carryover.

The five-race sequence encompasses the Cape Henlopen S., in which we’ve already made our case for #3 The Grey Wizard (8-5) and #2 Limited Liability (2-1) as the most likely winners. They’re tough to split, so for Pick 5 purposes we recommend using them both in equal strength.

If it’s a single you’re searching for, you’re advised to check out race 6, a $20,000 starter optional claimer for fillies and mares racing one mile on dirt. Only six horses have entered, and it’s hard to look past the appealing form lines of #1 Respectfully (1-1), the heavy morning-line favorite.

Respectfully hasn’t missed the exacta in five starts this year for high-percentage trainer Jamie Ness, who has gone 30-for-111 (27%) at Delaware Park this meet. Respectfully started the year in a $16,000 allowance optional claimer racing one mile and 70 yards at Parx Racing; she led all the way to dominate by 5 1/2 lengths with a career-best 104 Brisnet Speed rating.

Respectfully has subsequently thrown down numbers of 92, 95, 92, and 86 while finishing second, second, first, and second in four $40,000 allowance optional claimers at Parx, all racing one mile or one mile and 70 yards. In her latest effort, she pressed a sharp pace set by #4 Dancing On My Own (3-1) and got the better of that rival, only to wind up finishing second behind 2023 Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial S. winner Mia Tosca, who rated behind the early duel in third place.

Only one of Respectfully’s Wednesday rivals has recently posted a Brisnet Speed rating in the 90-plus range, and that is Dancing On My Own, whom Respectfully has already defeated twice this year. Respectfully’s combination of consistent early speed and strong Brisnet Speed ratings stamp her as a viable single underneath hot jockey Jaime Rodriguez, a 28% winner at Delaware Park this meet.

Good luck!