Quills Picks Winners – Wednesday 5/20 – Delaware Park Race 7
We head back stateside, and we head back to the heat dome that covers the mid-Atlantic region. Today we take the first look this season at Delaware Park. Their featured race is an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track. Six horses are entered into our featured race.
Delaware Park Race 7 – Allowance
Favored in today’s race is the 6 Spikezone (3/2 morning line). He races for the first time since October where he dueled and just missed in an optional claiming race at Aqueduct. This is a gelding that wants to go for the lead. He has Paco Lopez aboard today who won the Preakness this past Saturday.
The 4 Twisted Ride (2/1 ML) where he was game in defeat in the Page McKenney Handicap. He also likes to be on the lead and could be dueling with the morning line favorite in this race.
The 1 St. Jude (7/2 ML) races for the first time since December where he finished Third in the Grade 3 Elite Power Stakes at Aqueduct. He has shown versatility in his races, having closed to win in a race here at Delaware back in October. That is probably the best thing for him today, but he has won on the front end as well.
The 5 Bold Diversion (10/1 ML) is second race off of the layoff after finishing last of five in the Frank Whitley Stakes at Laurel Park. He broke slowly in that race and has been working since then for today’s race. He looks to be the stone cold closer in this race but might need a crazy pace up front.
Joe’s Pick
I dug further into Spikezone and this gelding has improved with age. He hit the board nine times with three wins in eleven races last year. In 2024, he won eleven times with three thirds in 14 races. Very consistent over the last two years!
He will get a challenge early from the horse on the inside, but I am getting the feeling that he will sit at the hip of Twisted Ride and take over. Spikezone won’t be far off the pace. He will hold off the closers and Twisted Ride for the win.
I’m calling this race 6-1-4-5 and my play is $20 to win on the 6. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
