Day three of the on-track exacta pool bonus experiment has made a impact for most horse players who came to Delaware Park today. The on-track exacta bonus is a unique promotion in that it rewards horse players based upon handicapping skill and level of play who place Delaware Park exacta wagers at the track.

The total approximate amount of on-track exacta bonuses returned to winning players was $1,202.40.

The total $2 exacta payoffs for the ten races at Delaware Park today was $864.60. The total $2 exacta payoffs with the bonus included for the ten races at Delaware Park was $960.60, for a difference of $96.00.

Per race the breakdown was as follows:

$2 Exacta Payoff
on-track bonus
$2 Exacta Payoff w/on-track bonus

1st Race
$8.80
$1.00
$9.80

2nd Race
$43.80
$5.00
$48.80

3rd Race
$7.60
$.80
$8.40

4th Race
$11.60
$1.20
$12.80

5th Race
$24.80
$2.60
$27.40

6th Race
$24.00
$2.80
$26.80

7th Race
$50.40
$5.60
$56.00

8th Race
$617.80
$68.60
$686.40

9th Race
$75.80
$8.40
$84.20






Total
$864.60
$96.00
$960.60

The take-out for on-track exacta players of Delaware Park races has been reduced from 19% to 10%. The reduced on-track takeout has effectively given winning on-track exacta players a bonus of approximately 10% of the payoff. For example, the return to an on-track player will be approximately $110 for a winning $2 exacta combination with a payout of $100. There will be no effect on the exacta payout for off-track wagers.

Delaware Park will feature on-track exacta pool bonuses on the Delaware Park live races through the conclusion of the meet on Breeders’ Cup Day November 6. If the experiment proves successful the program could continue next year and include additional wagers.

Delaware Park has live racing on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Daily first race post time is 1:15 p.m.

Richland Hills Stable and John Kuehl’s Secret Gypsy will be looking to continue her comeback success when she meets seven rivals in the $150,000 Grade III Endine Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday. The six furlong event for fillies and mares is named after the two-time Delaware Handicap winner (1958 & 1959) who was locally owned by Christiana Stables.

In her most recent, Secret Gypsy posted a 2-length score in the six furlong Grade II Honorable Miss Stakes at Saratoga on August 8. Previously, the 5-year-old daughter of Sea of Secrets notched a 4 ¾-length score in the six furlong $100,000 Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows on June 25. Before her victory in the Saylorville, her last victory dated back to March 21, 2009 when the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Ronny Werner posted a 1 ¼-length win in the six furlong Grade II Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct. Since then, she ran ninth in the Grade I Humana Distaff at Churchill last May and tenth in the $70,000 Finney Stakes sprinting on the Saratoga turf last August. After an eight month layoff, she returned with a third-place effort in the $50,000 Queen Stakes over the synthetic surface at Turfway Park on March 27. She followed with a fifth in the $75,000 MaKettle Stakes at Indiana Downs on May 3 and a third in the Grade III Winning Colors at Churchill on May 31.

There was a very good reason for the five race winless stint over a fifteen month period.

“She has had some issues with her knees and we have had to operate on her a couple of times, so that has been the biggest reason,” said trainer Ronny Werner. “She has comeback off those operations well. She has done well and we have been fortunate that she has made it back both mentally and physically. It is a mental battle as well, but she is tough. She is a warrior and I have a ton of respect for her and she sure has been running good for us.”

Her last race put the exclamation point on the time and effort dedicated to her comeback and now her team is hoping to keep moving forward.

“We were really pleased with her effort,” Werner said. “She took it to the next level and really stepped up her game, but we are looking forward and hopefully we will keep her on this pattern.”

Secret Gypsy has a career record of seven wins, two seconds and two thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $506,926.

- Lazy Lane Farm’s Edgewater tops a field of ten entered in the mile and an eighth $75,000 DTHA Governors Day Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday. The race for 3-year-olds and upward is restricted to horses who have started at Delaware Park this year (stake races excluded).

In his last outing, the 4-year-old son of Lion Heart ran second beaten 2-lengths in the mile and a sixteenth $100,000 R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park on July 17. Previously, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Rodney Jenkins recorded a length victory in a mile and a sixteenth allowance at Delaware Park on June 21. This year, his record is two wins and two seconds from six starts with earnings of $73,160. His career record is four wins and three thirds from ten starts with earnings of $110,120.

Cottonwood Stable’s Doc’s Friend has the potential to record the upset. In his last outing, the 4-year-old son of Friend’s Lake ran second in a mile and seventy yard allowance at Delaware Park on July 15. On June 21, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Cindy Jones ran fourth beaten 4 ¾-lengths to Edgewater in a mile and a sixteenth allowance at Delaware Park. He is winless this year from five starts. He sports a career record of three wins, four seconds and three thirds from 19 starts with earnings of $128,374.

“Terry (Thompson) said his last race was the best he has had since he has been here, so we are hoping Doc’s Friend is moving in the right direction,” said trainer Cindy Jones. “He is coming into the race a fresh horse because we have not been able to get him in races, so he is fresh and I think we got him ready.”

The queen of Venezuela, Paula C Racing Stable’s Bambera, will be seeking her first victory of the year in the $75,000 George Rosenberger Memorial at Delaware Park this Saturday. Fifteen have been entered in the mile and a sixteenth turf test for fillies and mares that have raced at Delaware Park this year (stake races excluded).

After nearly a four month layoff, the daughter of the leading South American sire Water Poet, finished second beaten a neck in a mile and a sixteenth turf allowance at Delaware Park on August 5.

Earlier this year, the 4-year-old filly trained by Pablo Andrade stumbled badly at the start and was injured while making her stateside debut in the mile and an eighth Grade III Rampart at Gulfstream Park on March 20.

Last year, she compiled a record of 13 wins and a second from 14 starts with earnings of $832,114. She closed her 2009 campaign with a 4 ½-length triumph in the mile and an eighth $290,000 Grade I Clasico del Caribe at Hippodromo Camarero in San Juan, Puerto Rico. While racing at La Rinconda in Venezuela, she posted nine Grade I victories, defeated older horses four times, and beat the boys 12 times from 17 starts. She won the filly Triple Crown in Venezuela and won two of three races that make up the Venezuelan Triple Crown for male horses. She was voted 2009 Venezuelan Horse of the Year. She has a career record of 16 wins and two seconds from 20 starts with earnings of $931,564.

“She really needed her last race,” said trainer Pablo Andrade. “We are expecting her to run really well this Saturday. We think she will improve off of her last race and we are looking forward to the race on Saturday.”

Cindy and J. Larry Jones’ Haven’s Honey put it all together to win her first race of the year in her most recent. On August 17, the 5-year-old daughter of E. Dubai notched a head victory in a mile and seventy yard allowance at Delaware Park. Previously, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Cindy Jones finished third in a mile and seventy yard allowance on July 26. She has a career record of six wins, four seconds and four thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $210,854. Her career record on the grass is two seconds and a third from four starts.

Although winless on the grass, her trainer Cindy Jones is expecting a top performance.

“She won her last race and she is doing really well,” said trainer Cindy Jones. “She has run on the turf and she has done well. It does not matter turf or dirt. We think she may like the dirt a little better, but she really is a competitive mare and she can run well on both. And if it rains, she likes the off going as well. She is just a little hard knocking mare. When she has to go seven or eight wide, she loses so much ground, but those little legs are just a scrambling. In her last, she just had a perfect trip coming up on the rail to save ground. That was a pretty good field and we think she beat a nice group that day.”

The second day of the on-track exacta pool bonus experiment has made a difference for most horse players who came to Delaware Park today. The on-track exacta bonus is a unique promotion in that it rewards horse players based upon handicapping skill and level of play who place Delaware Park exacta wagers at the track.

The total approximate amount of on-track exacta bonuses returned to winning players was $3,418.11.

The total $2 exacta payoffs for the ten races at Delaware Park today was $401.20. The total $2 exacta payoffs with the bonus included for the ten races at Delaware Park was $445.60, for a difference of $44.40.

Per race the breakdown was as follows:

$2 Exacta Payoff
on-track bonus
$2 Exacta Payoff w/on-track bonus

1st Race
$9.80
$1.20
$11.00

2nd Race
$65.60
$7.20
$72.80

3rd Race
$34.00
$3.60
$37.60

4th Race
$78.80
$8.80
$87.60

5th Race
$56.40
$6.20
$62.60

6th Race
$20.20
$2.20
$22.40

7th Race
$20.40
$2.20
$22.60

8th Race
$21.00
$2.40
$23.40

9th Race
$31.60
$3.60
$35.20

10th Race
$63.40
$7.00
$70.40

Total
$401.20
$44.40
$445.60

The take-out for on-track exacta players of Delaware Park races has been reduced from 19% to 10%. The reduced on-track takeout has effectively given winning on-track exacta players a bonus of approximately 10% of the payoff. For example, the return to an on-track player will be approximately $110 for a winning $2 exacta combination with a payout of $100. There will be no effect on the exacta payout for off-track wagers.

Delaware Park will feature on-track exacta pool bonuses on the Delaware Park live races through the conclusion of the meet on Breeders’ Cup Day November 6. If the experiment proves successful the program could continue next year and include additional wagers.

The first day of the on-track exacta pool bonus experiment has made a difference for most horse players who came to Delaware Park today. The on-track exacta bonus is a unique promotion in that it rewards horse players based upon handicapping skill and level of play who place Delaware Park exacta wagers at the track.

The total approximate amount of on-track exacta bonuses returned to winning players was $3556.00.

The total $2 exacta payoffs for the ten races at Delaware Park today was $887.40. The total $2 exacta payoffs with the bonus included for the ten races at Delaware Park was $986.20, for a difference of $98.80.

Per race the breakdown was as follows:

$2 Exacta Payoff on-track bonus $2 Exacta Payoff w/on-track bonus
1st Race $7.60 $.80 $8.40
2nd Race $96.00 $10.80 $106.80
3rd Race $55.40 $6.20 $61.60
4th Race $538.00 $59.80 $597.80
5th Race $19.60 $1.80 $21.80
6th Race $77.40 $8.60 $86.00
7th Race $27.60 $3.20 $30.80
8th Race $20.20 $2.20 $22.40
9th Race $36.60 $4.40 $40.60
10th Race $9.00 $1.00 $10.00
Total $887.40 $98.80 $986.20

The take-out for on-track exacta players of Delaware Park races has been reduced from 19% to 10%. The reduced on-track takeout has effectively given winning on-track exacta players a bonus of approximately 10% of the payoff. For example, the return to an on-track player will be approximately $110 for a winning $2 exacta combination with a payout of $100. There will be no effect on the exacta payout for off-track wagers.

Delaware Park will feature on-track exacta pool bonuses on the Delaware Park live races through the conclusion of the meet on Breeders’ Cup Day November 6. If the experiment proves successful the program could continue next year and include additional wagers.

The third leading trainer in North America by wins, Jamie Ness has shipped ten horses to Delaware Park. This year, Ness has a national record of 194 winners, 134 seconds, and 83 thirds from 663 starters through August 31st. The 35-year-old native of Huron, South Dakota has his first starter of the meet entered in the third race, a six furlong starter allowance, this Saturday. Midwest Thoroughbreds’, who also has horses at Delaware Park with trainer Brad Cox, Trust Nobody is the 5-to-2 second morning-line choice in the field of six. Through August 31, Ness is the top trainer at Presque Isle Downs, which ends September 25th, with a record of 69 wins, 49 seconds, and 33 thirds from 212 starters. This past winter he finished tied for first in the Tampa Bay Downs trainer standings where he has been the leader for the past four seasons (2007 through 2010). The resident of Shakopee, Minnesota recorded his first career victory with Blue Rocket at Canterbury Park, where he ranks as one of the all-time winning trainers, in 2000.

Midwest Thoroughbreds is the leading owner in North America by wins and second by earnings with a record of 208 winners, 143 seconds and 104 thirds from 737 starters with purses earned of $3,000,865 through August 31st. At Delaware Park, they rank second, three wins behind Florence Patitucci, with a record of 24 wins, 11 seconds and 20 thirds from 86 starters with purses earned of $364,589. At Presque Isle Downs, Midwest Thoroughbreds is the runaway leading owner with a 42 win lead with a record of 51 winners, 40 seconds and 26 thirds from 173 starters.

After posting a very impressive maiden score in his most recent outing, Roman Hill Farm’s I’m Steppin’ It Up will be seeking his second career victory at Delaware Park this Saturday. The 2-year-old son of Congrats will be facing five rivals in a one mile turf allowance which has been carded as the seventh race with an approximate post time of 3:57 p.m. In his last start, the Florida-bred trained by Anthony Pecoraro posted a 10 ¼-length score in a mile and seventy yard $36,000 maiden at Delaware Park on August 16. In his two other starts, he finished sixth in a five furlong maiden at Delaware Park on May 29 and then followed with a second in a turf maiden at Belmont Park on July 11. The even-money morning-line favorite has lifetime earnings of $37,350. The meet’s leading jockey, A. R. “Rosie” Napravnik will have the mount.

His main competition will come from Endeavor Bloodstock’s The Flying Whizzer who recently ran second in the $101,000 Contintental Mile at Monmouth Park on August 14. Previously, the Florida-bred trained by Jane Cibelli ran second in the $50,000 Chenery Stakes at Colonial Downs on July 17. The son of Spanish Steps sports a career record of a win and two seconds from five starts with earnings of $42,452.

Daybreak Stables’ Rocket Defense looks like the one to beat in the feature race Saturday. The 4year-old daughter Peace Rules tops a field of six in a six furlong $42,000 allowance/optional claiming $50,000 event. The Virginia-bred conditioned by Dove Houghton is in for the $50,000 tag. In her most recent, she ran second beaten a neck as the prohibitive favorite in a six furlong allowance at Delaware Park on July 22. Previously, she posted a 2 ¼-length score in a five and a half furlong allowance at Delaware Park on June 22. This year, her record is three wins and a second from five starts with earnings of $72,520. Her career record is seven wins and a second from ten starts with earnings of $145,450. The meet’s leading jockey A.R. “Rosie” Napravnik is scheduled to have the mount on the 8-to-5 morning-line favorite.

The second choice is Ruby Stables and Steve Klesaris’ Casanova Killer. In her last outing, the 5-year-old daughter of Storm Boot ran second in the six furlong $50,000 Dashing Beauty Overnight Stakes at Delaware Park on August 4th. Previously, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Steve Klesaris posted a head triumph in a six furlong allowance at Monmouth Park on June 4. This year, she has had a win and a second from five starts with earnings of $62,239. Her career record is six wins, three seconds and three thirds from 24 starts with earnings of $278,079.

Candy DeBartolo’s Life At Ten, the recent winner of the Grade II Delaware Handicap, will take aim the reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the mile and a quarter $300,000 Grade I Personal Ensign at Saratoga this Sunday. Life At Ten will be putting her six race win streak on the line when she meets three other rivals.

In her last outing, the 5-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon scored an easy 3-length front running victory in the mile and a quarter $750,000 Delaware Handicap on July 17. Previously, the Kentucky-bred trained by Todd Pletcher notched a 2 ¾-length in the mile and a sixteenth $250,000 Grade I Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park on June 12. She will be bringing a career record of seven wins, five seconds and a third from 14 starts into the Personal Ensign.

“The Personal Ensign is a natural progression as it made sense to keep her at a mile and a quarter,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains the 5-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon for Candy DeBartolo. “It just so happens that Rachel Alexandra is going to this race, but we are sticking with our plan.”

Life At Ten enters the Personal Ensign on a six-race winning streak which includes victories in the Grade 3 Sixty Sails Handicap at Hawthorne in April and the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap in June at Belmont.

“She has gotten better and better as she has gotten older,” said Pletcher. “It was something we thought would happen, although it took longer than we had hoped.”

Life At Ten has raced on or right off the lead in her four most recent starts, but Pletcher believes that doesn’t necessarily mean his filly will be winging out front with Rachel Alexandra.

“Our filly has tactical speed; she can place herself where she needs to be,” said Pletcher. “I think she’ll be forwardly placed, but we’ll play it by ear.”

Since winning the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year after posting eight straight victories in 2009, Rachel Alexandra has started to put it all together this year. The 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro opened her 2010 campaign by being upset by Zardana in the mile and a sixteenth $200,000 New Orlean Ladies at the Fair Grounds on March 13. The Kentucky-bred trained by Steven Asmussen followed by running second in the mile and a sixteenth $400,000 Grade II La Troiene at Churchill Downs on April 30. On June 12, she posted her first victory of the year with a 10 ½-length triumph in the mile and an eighth $200,000 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs. In her most recent outing, she posted a 3-length score in the mile and an eighth $412,000 Lady Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 24. She has a career record of 13 wins and four seconds from 18 starts with earnings of $3,446,730.

“The filly is a year older, and she’s carrying a little more weight, a little heavier than she was then,” said Asmussen. “There are no comparisons to the situation when she moved into the barn last year. It’s impossible to duplicate, moving into the barn four days off of a big race and 10 days before a classic. You can’t recreate that sort of tension or pressure on her, so it’s obviously a lot more relaxed this year.”

Rachel Alexandra has been stabled at Saratoga since June 30, and Asmussen is happy with the way she has progressed following the Lady’s Secret.

“We’re trying to keep her in a rhythm and keep her happy, and we feel that’s where she’s at,” said Asmussen.

Calvin Borel, who has piloted Rachel Alexandra in her past 13 starts, will ride the 4-year-old filly once again on Sunday. The 2-5 morning-line favorite, she drew post position 2.