Keeneland Select Pick of the Day | July 10, 2021

Race 5 at Delaware Park | Saturday July 10 | Post Time 3:15 PM Eastern

Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes – Grade 3 | Purse $150,000 | One Mile and Three Eighths on Turf | Fillies and Mares, Three Years Old and Upward

The reason I picked this race for the Keeneland Select blog Race of the Week is because I think it’s likely to provide a nice profit given the horse I think is most probable to win opens at eight to one odds. That is La Dragontea (9). The filly had one win and three second or third place finishes in her first six races in England with all of the in-the-money finishes coming in her first five starts last year before a poor effort and importing to the U.S. Making her first start in the states last May and following more than six months off, La Dragontea dominated wire-to-wire at 10 furlongs in a strong display of both speed and overall ability. In her second start off the layoff last month at Belmont, La Dragontea was sixth of seven but less than three lengths behind the leader on the far turn but was COMPLETELY BLOCKED the entire length of the stretch and had no chance to run. Although she led wire-to-wire in May, La Dragontea had earned her one win last year, which also came at 10 furlongs, from off the pace and she finished second the only time she previously ran this 11 furlong trip. Considering it is likely Candy Flower (2) will go for the lead from the start as she nearly always does but will be pressed by Dalika (8) and Tonal Verse (6), La Dragontea will be able to settle in mid-pack in the early stages and without the traffic trouble she suffered from last month can post the upset in this race.

Temple City Terror (5) is the main threat to La Dragontea, and as she opens at 6 to 1 that is another reason this race could turn out to be very profitable. Temple City Terror just won the Keertana Stakes at a mile and one-half on May 22 so the cut back to a mile and three-eighths should help her to run another “A” race good enough to win. Geroux did not ride her in the Keertana but did ride her when second in the Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes in February so is familiar enough with her to get her to run big for the second time in a row.

Dalika (8) has finished first or second in 11 of 21 races and as such she must be used on exacta and trifecta tickets.

One reason this race appears to be exceptionally playable is Micheline (4) opens as the 5 to 2 favorite and is a vulnerable favorite in my opinion off a non-excuse 10^th place finish in the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes last month. That following a poor effort in the tougher Grade 1 Jenny Wiley but as she did not improve on the drop in class I can’t see a turnaround back to a competitive effort particularly as her best race still doesn’t make her a standout.

Win bets: La Dragontea (9) to win at odds of 2 to 1 or more.

Temple City Terror (5) to win at odds of 7 to 2 or more.

Exactas:

Box La Dragontea (9) and Temple City Terror (5)

La Dragontea (9), Dalika (8) and Temple City Terror (5)

Trifectas:

La Dragontea (9) and Temple City Terror (5) over La Dragontea (9) and Temple City Terror (5) over ALL

La Dragontea (9) and Temple City Terror (5) over ALL over La Dragontea (9) and Temple City Terror (5)