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.

The lightly raced Pistols at Dawn tops the feature race Saturday. The six furlong $39,000 allowance for 3-year-olds and upward has attracted a field of eight.

Pistols At Dawn has had two career starts. In his debut, the 3-year-old son of Grand Slam posted a 3 ¾-length score going six and a half furlongs at Churchill Downs on July 2. The Florida-bred trained by Steve Margolis followed by running third beaten 5 ¾-lengths as the prohibitive favorite in a seven furlong allowance at Saratoga on August 7. Since then, he has had one workout when he breezed five furlongs in 1:01.80 over a fast Delaware Park main track.

The main threat should could from Keepinonestepahead. The 4-year-old gelded son of Crafty Prospector sports a career record of four wins, four seconds and four thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $97,816. In his most recent outing, the Kentucky-bred ran second in a five furlong allowance at Delaware Park on August 11. Keepinonestepahead is conditioned by Cody Autrey, who was the leading trainer at Delaware Park last year.

Estrorace’s Workin For Hops, recently third in the mile and a quarter $400,000 Grade I Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park on August 21, is being pointed toward the $250,0000 Kent Stakes (include $50,000 Breeders’ Cup fund) at Delaware Park on September 25. The 1 mile and 1/8th on the turf Grade III event is for 3-year-olds.

Previously, the gelded son of City Zip notched a 2 ¼-length triumph in the 1 mile 3/16ths $200,000 Grade II American Derby at Arlington Park. This year, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Michael Stidham, who currently ranks 13th on the Delaware Park trainer standings, has also won the $100,000 Arlington Classic and the $60,000 Grindstone Stakes at Fair Grounds & finished second in the Grade II Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs. He sports a record of five wins, two seconds and a third from nine starts with earnings of $396,176.

Edward P. Evan’s A Little Warm is the 7-to-2 morning line favorite for the 141st $1 million Grade I Travers Stakes at a mile and a quarters at Saratoga this Saturday.

In his most recent outing, the 3-year-old of Stormin Fever won the mile and an eighth Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 31. Previously, in his comeback race after being away from the races for three months, the Virginia-bred conditioned by Anthony Dutrow, who is currently fourth on the Delaware Park trainer standings, won a mile and a sixteenth allowance at Delaware Park on June 29. Shortly after running second in the Grade II Louisana Derby at the Fair Grounds on March 27, Dutrow shipped A Little Warm north to Delaware Park where he was stabled and trained until he was shipped to Saratoga shortly before his victory in the Jim Dandy Stakes. He has a record of four wins and four seconds from nine starts with earnings of $608,880.

Winner of the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, the Spa’s traditional local prep for the “Midsummer Derby,” A Little Warm edged out Trappe Shot, whose connections made a last-minute decision to opt for the Travers over the Grade 1 King’s Bishop, for the favorite’s role in the 1 ¼ mile race.

With John Velazquez aboard, A Little Warm was tabbed at 7-2 on the morning line from post position 5, while Trappe Shot, who drew post position 2 under Alan Garcia, was listed at 4-1.

A Little Warm, who will be picking up 11 pounds, under the race’s impost of 126 pounds, and stretching out an extra furlong from the Jim Dandy, comes into the Travers off two straight wins, the first of which was an optional claimer at Delaware Park following a three-month layoff, in which he earned a Beyer speed figure of 105.

Having missed the spring classics – first the Derby, for which he did not have enough graded stakes earnings, and then the Preakness, having bled in a workout five days prior to the race –

A Little Warm’s connections are eagerly anticipating the Travers, which will be his first Grade 1 start and which could propel him into the mix for year-end divisional honors.

“We are so looking forward to the Travers with him,” said Tony Dutrow, who trains A Little Warm for Edward P. Evans. “We couldn’t feel better about the horse’s ability or how he’s coming into the race.”

A Little Warm is seeking to become the ninth colt to complete the Jim Dandy-Travers double, the most recent of which was Street Sense in 2007.

Lael Stable’s Ready Set scored an upset victory against his entry-mate, Nicanor, in the $50,700 Eight Thirty Stakes at Delaware Park today.

With Brian Joseph Hernandez aboard, Ready Set chased the early pacesetter Hugo, who set fractions of :45.47 for the half mile and 1:09.20 for the three-quarters mile, before defeating his foe in the final jumps. Tybalt finished third 1 ¼-lengths behind the winner. The mile and seventy yards on a firm turf was run in a course record time of 1:38.93. Nicanor, a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, finished sixth of seven. The Ready Set/Nicanor entry returned $3.40.

Ready Set had been winless in his last 15 starts dating back to August of 2008 when the Kentucky-bred trained by Ronny Werner notched a victory in the $750,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. In his most recent outing, the 5-year-old son of Touch Gold ran third in a seven a half furlong turf allowance at Delaware Park on July 28. His career record is five wins from 27 starts with earnings of $731,029.

“My horse ran great,” said winning rider Brian Joseph Hernandez. “They went quick in front of us, but he settled in real nice. He ran big in his last race, his first race after a little layoff, and he stepped his game today. He was there for us the whole way.”

Hernandez was surprised the early pacesetter Hugo did not got tired after setting a rapid early pace before finishing second.

“I was actually,” he said. “When I got inside a rival, I thought the leader was going to comeback to us fast. My horse had to run him down pretty hard to get to him. The horse that ran second really ran a game race.”