It was a little more than a year ago when the 6-year-old son of Monarchos visited the winner’s circle.  On April 11, 2011, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by McLean Robertson posted a one-length score in the in the mile-and-an-eighth $350,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap.  Since then, he has raced twice in losing efforts at Oaklawn Park.  On March 10, he ran sixth in the Grade III Razorback Handicap, and on April 14 he ran seventh in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap.  He has a career record of seven wins, four seconds and two thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $827,127.

“He is there at Delaware, and he is doing well,” said Robertson.  “He has had a couple of works over the surface, and he has run well at Delaware Park in the past.  It is a logical spot.  It is a step back obviously from the Oaklawn Handicap, but it is also a step back he needs to take.  He really got nothing out of his first race back this year.  But in his second race, he ran hard and just kind of got out ran.  But he ran hard, and I think he is fit and ready now.”

Win Willy sports a Delaware Park record of a win and a second from two outings.  In 2010, he won the $125,000 Brandywine Stakes and ran second in the $50,000 Grover Delp Memorial Stakes.

Another horse for course to watch is Tech Fall.  The 4-year-old son of Birdstone is two for two at Delaware Park.  In 2010, the Kentucky-bred trained by Anthony Dutrow broke his maiden in his career debut going, a mile and 70 yards.  Last year, he won a mile-and-70-yard allowance.  In his most recent effort, he finished third in the mile-and-an-eighth $75,000 Action Stakes at Aqueduct on April 15.  He has a career record of three wins, two seconds and a third from seven starts with earnings of $123,400.

With Jose Caraballo aboard, the 4-year-old daughter of Jump Start notched a 4 ¼-length front running victory.  She returned $4.80 as the favorite in the field of five.  The Virginia-bred conditioned by Anthony Dutrow cut early fractions :48.81 for the half mile and 1:12.25 for the three-quarter miles before completing the mile and a sixteenth in 1:44.86 over a fast main track.

Brushed by Love, with Julian Pimentel, finished second and Bahia Beach, with Javier Santiago, finished third.  

“The early fractions were very kind, she had an easy way, she relaxed well, and she responded in the stretch,” said winning trainer Anthony Dutrow.  “Michael (Dubb) called me before we claimed her and told me “there is a filly in today who is getting better’, so he deserves all the credit.  She started in New York and she has been in Delaware since the first of April, so there are a lot of people who have worked very hard to get her where she is today.  The Obeah Stakes (June 16) is a good possibility for her.”

On December 15, she was claimed for $35,000 at Aqueduct.  She followed with a pair of six furlong scores at Aqueduct on February 10 and March 2. 

Last year, the 38-year-old native of Schuyler, Nebraska, posted his best Delaware Park season by finishing third in the standings with a record of 31 winners from 142 starters with earnings of $885,962.  In 2010, he posted a record of 12 wins from 88 starters.

Robertson is planning on sending fewer horses this year, but he is still expecting similar results as last year.

“This year, I sent a few more horses to Canterbury and few more to Arlington,” said Robertson.  “Delaware has a pretty long meet, so that could change depending on how things work out.  We still expect to win our fair share of the races at Delaware.  But right now, at the beginning of the meet, I sent a few less to Delaware.  I think last year, I sent 50 horses to Delaware, and this year it is going to be around 45.”

There are approximately 1,300 miles between Delaware Park in Stanton, Delaware, and Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, but the distance between divisions, with Arlington Park in the middle, does not bother Robertson. 

“Right now it just makes sense for me,” Robertson said.  “I have been based at Canterbury for 15 years and my dad is at Arlington in Chicago, so I do not do much there.  He has trained for 42 years and won 1,200 races.  Whatever, I tell him, he is not going to do anyways.  From Minneapolis to Philadelphia is a two-and-a-half-hour flight, and the gates in Minneapolis are about 20 minutes from the track and gates in Philadelphia are about 30 minutes from the track, so it is not really all that bad.  As long as you fly back and forth, it works out.  I really like all three tracks, and each track offers something unique for my stable.  Also I like having my operations in different locations, because I can keep all of my options open for the future.”

Robertson noted a pair of horses to watch at Delaware Park.  They are Jer-Mar Stable’s Win Willy and Barry and Joni Butzow’s Bryan’s Jewel.

“I think Bryan’s Jewel really likes Delaware Park,” he said.  “This year, we went to Oaklawn, and she did not run well.  Last year, we went to Oaklawn, and she did not run any good.  It just seems like she really thrives at Delaware Park, and I hope to run her in stakes at Delaware.  Win Willy is another.  He is rounding into form after having about a year off.  He ran better in the Oaklawn Handicap, which was a paceless race.  He always trains well at Delaware, and I am hoping to get to run him in something there or something in the region.  Good old horses like him can run with anybody when they are right.”

Bryan’s Jewel has a career record of four wins, a second and three thirds from 12 starts, with earnings of $134,073.  At Delaware Park, the 4-year-old daughter of Rockport Harbor has a record of three wins, a second and three thirds from eight starts.  In her most recent, the Kentucky-bred finished fifth in the $75,000 Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn Park on January 21.

Win Willy has career record of seven wins, four seconds and two thirds from 20 starts, with earnings of $827,127.  In 2010, the 6-year-old son of Monarchos ran second in an overnight stake and followed with a victory in the $125,000 Brandywine Stakes.  Last year, the Kentucky-bred won the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap.  In his most recent, he finished seventh, beaten nearly 8-lengths in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap on April 14.  

Robertson is also optimistic he will get positive results from his 2-year-old crop.

“My 2-year-olds were real real slow last year, so I would think I have a least a few this year with a little speed,” he said.  “Everything I had was slow, so I am optimistic this new crop will make up for the slow one last year.”

The 75^th season of live racing at Delaware Park will feature 100 days, with the meet concluding on November 3. Live racing will be held on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Live racing will not be conducted on the first Thursday of the meet on May 17.  A special Father’s Day live racing card will be held on Sunday, June 17.  There will not be live racing the following Monday, June 18.  Daily first race post time is set for 1:15 p.m., except on August 23 and 30 and September 6 and 13 when first race post time is set for 3:30 p.m. for twilight racing.  Admission and general parking are free.

Delaware Park’s premier races, the Delaware Oaks (Gr. II) and the Delaware Handicap (Gr. II), will be held on July 14 and July 21, respectively.

Opening Day activities officially begin at 9 a.m. with Breakfast in the Park, which features a sumptuous breakfast buffet for $8.95 and an informative handicapping seminar conducted by Delaware Park Handicapper Chris Sobocinski with guest handicapper Rick Smyth, the public handicapper for the Wilmington News Journal. Guests attending Breakfast in the Park, which will be held in the New Castle Room on the third floor of Delaware Park’s clubhouse, will also receive a free racing program and special gift.

The first in the Family Fun Day series, featuring activities for the kids and a country style barbecue, will get underway at noon in the famous Delaware Park picnic grove. The Family Fun Day activities include a Moon Bounce, Super Slide, and Pony Rides. 

The 75^th anniversary season of live racing at Delaware Park will feature 100 days, with the meet concluding on November 3. Live racing will be held on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Live racing will not be conducted on the first Thursday of the meet on May 17.  A special Father’s Day live racing card will be held on Sunday, June 17.  There will not be live racing the following Monday, June 18.  Daily first race post time is set for 1:15 p.m. except on August 23 & 30 and September 6 & 13 for twilight racing when first race post time is set for 3:30 p.m.  Admission and general parking are free.

Delaware Park’s premier races, the Delaware Oaks (Gr. II) and the Delaware Handicap (Gr. II), will be held on July 14 and July 21, respectively.

The special Father’s Day live racing card will be held on Sunday, June 17.  There will not be live racing the following Monday, June 18.

The Twilight Thursday live racing cards will be held on August 23 and 30 and September 6 and 13, with a first race post time of 3:30 p.m.  First race post time on all other days is set for 1:15 p.m.

Live racing will be held on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Live racing will not be conducted on the first Thursday of the meet on May 17.  Admission and general parking are free.  Delaware Park’s premier races, the Delaware Oaks (Gr. II) and the Delaware Handicap (Gr. II), will be held on July 14 and July 21, respectively.

Opening Day activities officially begin at 9 a.m. with Breakfast in the Park, which will feature a sumptuous breakfast buffet for $8.95 and an informative handicapping seminar conducted by Delaware Park Handicapper Chris Sobocinski with guest handicapper, Rick Smyth, the public handicapper for the Wilmington News Journal.  Guests attending Breakfast in the Park, which will be held in the New Castle Room on the third floor of Delaware Park’s clubhouse, will also receive a free racing program and special gift.

The first 5,000 fans entering the park through the grove and race track valet after 11 a.m. will receive a Delaware Park 75th anniversary commemorative poster.  The first in the Family Fun Day series, featuring activities for the kids and a country style barbecue, will a get underway at noon in the famous Delaware Park picnic grove. The Family Fun Day activities include a moon bounce, a super slide and pony rides.

Registration for the May monthly Handicapping Contest will start at 10 a.m. The monthly Handicap Contests consist of six tracks with a maximum of two entries per person. The purse distribution, based upon 150 entries, is as follows: $3,000 for first place, $1,500 for second, $900 for third and $600 for fourth. The winner of each monthly contest wins entry, airfare and accommodations for the 2013 Coast Casino Horse Players World Series in Las Vegas.  The remaining seven monthly handicapping tournaments are scheduled for June 23, July 14, August 11, September 8, October 13, November 24 and December 8.  

Powered by Midwest Thoroughbreds, the leading owner in North America in both starts and wins, Ness is the prohibitive favorite to take the trainer title, even though he has never been the leading trainer at Delaware Park before.  Midwest Thoroughbreds has been the leading owner by wins at Delaware Park for the past two years.

Fair or unfair, Ness knows what the expectations are for his stable from the outside, but inside he is keeping everything in perspective.

“Going into the gate, we will give it the best shot we can,” said Ness, who finished second last year in the trainer standings at Delaware Park to two-time defending champ Juan Vazquez.  “If it turns out we are the leading trainer, so be it.  If it turns out that we are not, so be it.  It is not like I am coming into this meet with the sole goal of being leading trainer.  My approach has always been one race and one day at a time.  At the end of the day, once the numbers are all tallied, then I will worry about whether or not I am the leading trainer.”

The 35-year-old native of Heron, South Dakota, has been the leading trainer at Tampa Bay Downs for the past six years, and after wintering in Florida, he is looking forward to racing back in Delaware.

“We like living in Delaware, and we like the long meet,” said Ness, who won his first career race with Blue Rocket at Canterbury Downs in 2000.  “Plus, making two moves is better than three like we used to do.  But the bottom line is our horses fit well into the Delaware Park program.  We had a great season last year and we are optimistic we can carry that success over into 2012.  Delaware Park is also very centrally located.  I also have stalls at Penn National, Presque Isle and Laurel, so it is very centrally located with my other strings.  It works well for us, and that is where we want to be.”

The 75^th season of live racing at Delaware Park will feature 100 days, with the meet concluding on November 3. Live racing will be held on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Live racing will not be conducted on the first Thursday of the meet on May 17.  A special Father’s Day live racing card will be held on Sunday, June 17.  There will not be live racing the following Monday, June 18.  Daily first race post time is set for 1:15 p.m. except on August 23 and 30 and September 6 and 13 for twilight racing when first race post time is set for 3:30 p.m.  Admission and general parking are free.

Delaware Park’s premier races, the Delaware Oaks (Gr. II) and the Delaware Handicap (Gr. II), will be held on July 14 and July 21, respectively.

“We have a few horses here now, and we will be sending some up from Maryland and Florida this week,” Vazquez reported from his barn at Delaware Park.  “We had a tough winter in Florida trying to claim horses.  I think I lost every shake.  I have a lot of horses, but I do not have as much new stock compared to last year and the year before, so we will see how it goes.  I will have about 55 horses at Delaware.”

Last year, his fourth full season stabled at Delaware Park, the 37-year-old native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, won his second consecutive trainer title with a record of 61 wins from 265 starters.  In 2010, Vazquez notched his first trainer title by notching 83 winners.

Vazquez knows this season he is the second morning-line favorite behind Jamie Ness, whose support from his primary owner Midwest Thoroughbreds helped him finished second last year with a record of 51 wins from 179 starts.  .

“Realistically, I know it will be very tough to win a third in a row,” Vazquez said.  “Obviously, we are going to be in there and trying to win every race, so you never know, but I also know I am not the favorite to win the title this year.  I always point the majority of my horses for this meet, so even if we do not win the title this year, we are going to make our presence felt.”

Delaware Park was the track where Vazquez enjoyed most of his early career success after immigrating to the United States from his native country, and that is one reason why he makes the Stanton-oval the focal point of his year.

“This is my house,” he said.  “The people at Delaware Park treat me great.  The people in Maryland treat me extremely good as well.  But Delaware Park is where I started training in this country, so that is another reason I like coming here.  Delaware really has given me everything and a big reason why I have enjoyed success as a trainer is because of the opportunities Delaware Park gave me early in my career.  This is my track, and I like it here.”

While Vazquez had limited success refreshing his stock through claiming, he will be adding some fresh horses from a new owner.

“I have a new owner from Argentina; Haras Firmamento will be sending me about a dozen horses, so I am pretty excited about that,” he said.  “They have been the leading farm in Argentina for the last 10 years or so.  And I have most of my other loyal owners, who have supported me through the years, back as well.”

One horse to keep an eye on at Delaware Park this season is Marvel Wood.  The 8-year-old son of Ormsby has a career Delaware Park record of nine wins, four seconds and two thirds from 17 starts, with earnings of $139,090.

“He is doing well,” Vazquez said.  “He will be back.  Right now he is just at the farm relaxing, but we plan on sending him here soon.”

Other top outfits planning on returning to Delaware Park in 2012 include Randy Nunley, Jamie Ness, Scott Lake, Anthony Dutrow, Steve Hobby, McLean Robertson, Michael Matz, Tim Ritchey, Jonas Gibson, Jonathan Sheppard and Thomas Iannotti IV.

The 75^th season of live racing at Delaware Park will feature 100 days, with the meet starting on May 12 and concluding on November 3.  Live racing will be held on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Daily first race post time is set for 1:15 p.m.

Last year, Horse of the Year, Havre de Grace, was stabled at Delaware Park from April through late September.  The Kentucky-bred trained by J. Larry Jones won the Grade III Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park before suffering her first lost of the year when she ran second, beaten by a nostril, against her arch-rival Blind Luck in what many have dubbed “The Race of the Year” in the Grade II Delaware Handicap.  Just four days before on July 12, a 2-year-old colt by the name of Union Rags broke his maiden at first asking.  The son of Dixie Union conditioned by Michael Matz followed with victories in the Grade II Saratoga Special and the Grade I Champagne Stakes before being stamped as a top contender for the 2012 Kentucky Derby. 

Since 2002, an amazing 27 Delaware Park maiden winners have gone on to win Graded stakes victories: 

Broadway’s Alibi (2012 – Grade II Forward Gal)

Mr. Bowling (2012 – Grade III LeComte)

Union Rags (2011 – Grade I Champagne)

Grace Hall (2011 – Grade I Spinaway)

Believe You Can (2011 – Grade III Tempted)

Ruler on Ice (2011 – Grade I Belmont Stakes)

Joyful Victory (2011 – Grade II Fantasy) 

Havre de Grace (2011 Grade I Woodward etc.) (Horse of Year & older filly champion)

R Heat Lightning (2010 – Spinaway)

Friesan Fire (2009 – Grade II Louisiana Derby)

Old Fashioned (2008 – Grade II Remsen)

Sky Diva (2008 – Grade I Frizette)

Mani Bhavan (2008 – Grade I Spinaway)

Eight Belles (2008  - Grade II Fantasy)

Proud Spell (2008 - Grade I Kentucky Oaks) (3-year-old filly champion)

Cool Coal Man (2008 – Grade II Fountain of Youth)

Forever Together (2008 – Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf) (female turf champion)

Hard Spun (2007 – Grade I – Kings Bishop)

Miss Shop (2007 – Grade I Personal Ensign)

Barbaro (2006 – Grade I Kentucky Derby)

Miraculous Miss (2006 – Grade II Forward Gal)

Afleet Alex (2005 - Grade I Preakness & Grade I Belmont) (3-year-old champion)

Bellamy Road (2005 – Grade I Wood Memorial)

High Limit (2005 – Grade II Louisiana Derby)

Scrappy T (2005 – Grade III Withers)

Tapit (2004 – Grade I Wood Memorial)

Booklet (2002 – Grade I Fountain of Youth)  

The Grade II Delaware Handicap will be run on July 21st and the Grade II Delaware Oaks will be run on July 14th.

The first condition book will be available soon at the Delaware Park website at www.delawarepark.com and will be mailed to horsemen in the next few days.