Delaware Park picks and analysis: July 18, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Delaware Park picks and analysis: July 18, 2025

Picks and analysis for this afternoon’s card from Delaware Park:

RACE 1

2. Level Up	Likely controlling speed in a race light on early zip
6. Martini Martin	Has been facing better but arrives off clunker at CT
7. Indulge	First in the Carrasco barn

RACE 2

6. Thea’s Theme	Makes third start off the bench with figs that contend
2. Spanish Delight	Just a couple races removed from races that would dominate here
3. Speak Your Mind	Could be main speed and pretty consistent type

RACE 3

6. Frack Baby	Debut was solid behind a horse who’s now 5-for-8 with a stakes win; tired in follow-up but now cuts back to a sprint
4. Artist Mark	Has caught some tough rivals, including two winners out of most recent dirt try and million-dollar horse Verifire back in March
2. Hard Performer	I dunno – you tell me… second off a 3-year layoff

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!

RACE 4

4. Rose Room	HANDICAPPING FOR OFF THE TURF: Don’t know if this miss will go, but she’s working like she’s ready and earlier workmate ran second in debut; 1/2 to a multiple graded winner on the grass
7. Doc’s Miracle	Has excuses in both starts
3. Tacit Value	Decent tries in both with some excuses; worked a pair of bullets after latest

RACE 5

6. Hey Big Un	Probably best in most recent when multiple trouble spots cost him the money by 1 1/2 lengths
7. Do It for Michael	Last year’s Maryland Million Nursery winner looks like he’s back in best form
5. Friday Surprise	Dead game on the lead in latest

RACING NOTES

Mystic Lake did what she was supposed to do, dominating a scratch-softened Dashing Beauty Stakes to win easily. Jockey Jorge Ruiz was in the irons for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. The winner paid $2.10…
That was one of two wins on the day for Jorge Ruiz. He also won a $50,000 off-the-turf Del-certified allowance aboard Atlas Strong for trainer Tim Woolley…
Martin Chuan also had a riding double. He won a claimer aboard Opposite the Crowd ($3.40) for trainer Greg Compton and the nightcap, a maiden claimer, on Phil’s On the Run ($7.20) for trainer Ned Allard…

RACE 6

10. Freedom Stance	HANDICAPPING FOR OFF THE TURF: MTO runner has won two straight and is lone runner to have more than two wins
14. P J’s Song	Second off the bench; prior dirt form was fine
3. Cesnola	Easy winner in latest

RACE 7

3. Play Harder	Lightly raced sort makes third start off the bench; two-back try was especially good when second to Haileysfirstnotion in a plus heat
5. Cybertime	Rides five-race win streak and almost certain to be one-two in the early going
1. Brother Conway	Magee-Torrealba combo has 26% strike rate

RACE 8

2. Stormin Heist	OK try in latest when chasing 7-5 favorite
5. Stormy Irish Lass	Arrives off a win and loks for stalk-and-pounce trip; note that rider jumps ship to #1
4. Step Lightly	Exchanged multiple bumps with inside rival before backing up; cleaner trip would help