The Lead:
Back-to-back Race of the Week scores at $870 and $518 made for a highly successful June in this space. We'll see if July can stay hot when one of my favorite races of the calendar year is renewed Sunday. The tradition-rich Delaware Handicap is the final of 4 straight stakes on Delaware Park's card and goes as Race 9. The race was shortened in distance to 1-3/16 miles a year ago and will be conducted at that trip again in 2024. The DelCap's storied history includes modern star winners like Idiomatic, Songbird, Royal Delta and Blind Luck.

​Field Depth:
Grade 1 winner WET PAINT is the field's handicap highweight at 123 pounds. HONOR D LADY is a multiple Grade 3 winner. MORNING MATCHA is Group 2-placed via this race a year ago. No doubt, WET PAINT holds the class edge in terms of strength of schedule.
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Pace:
Stretch-out sprinter MALIBU BEAUTY leaves from the rail and almost certainly sets the tempo. SADDLE UP JESSIE figures to apply the most pressure with HONOR D LADY having to make a decision between them. The pace should be solid for the 1-3/16 miles trip.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

#1-MALIBU BEAUTY: Speedster takes them as far as she can and benefits the longer they go without feeling strong pressure. Only 1 win in her last 9 since stretching out to 1-1/8 miles and winning a slow-paced Laurel stakes to close 2022. Needs that kind of trip ... and even an additional 110 yards.

#2-HONOR D LADY: Jockey Jose Ortiz is a 3-time winner of the DelCap and can match the race record of victories held by legendary pilot Angel Cordero Jr. if successful. Last year's Remington Park Oaks winner has transferred her form to age 4 this year by winning the Royal Delta at Gulfstream. Stuck between the 2 apparent speeds in this race, so a patient ride could land a great spot, but there's a chance she gets sucked up into the mix.

#3-SADDLE UP JESSIE: No excuse not to hold off HONOR D LADY last time at Monmouth when that one had a troubled start, so it's difficult to imagine her turning the tables over a longer trip Sunday. Stakes winner at Laurel and Aqueduct capable of having a big say in how the pace of this race unfolds, however. Prefer others to keep punching late.

#4-QUEEN OF MISSOULA: Deep closer has had a tendency to break in at the start, so beware inside of her. Her best races of late came on the Tapeta at Turfway, but those were 1-1/4 miles races and you know the distance won't dissuade her. Not without some chance, but demand a very square price.

#5-MORNING MATCHA: Third-place finisher in the '24 Delaware Handicap, she's also hit the board locally in the Delaware Oaks and Obeah Stakes ... obviously showing an affinity for a sometimes-tricky course for newcomers. Takes the 2 sprints and a route form cycle for respected trainer Butch Reid. May trip out behind the pacemakers and with first run on the closers.

#6-WET PAINT: Trainer Brad Cox won this race last year with eventual champion Idiomatic and can become the first barn to win back-to-back renewals with different horses since Todd Pletcher in 2006-'07. Idiomatic is being pointed instead to the Molly Pitcher at Monmouth. Her 2 races this year, albeit vs. much tougher, haven't been world-beaters and you'll likely have to take an underlay price with Flavien Prat in to ride. First try at Delaware Park, but note sire Blame gets a fantastic 24% winners over this main track from more than 75 chances.

#7-INTREPID DREAM: Laurel-based runner returns to the scene of some past success. Must rebound off a poor effort in the DuPont Distaff at Pimlico when far behind re-matched rival Queen of Missoula. Likely to chase the chase, however, and that's a difficult trip the way this could play out over 1-3/16 miles. Better than last, but not sure this is the right situation.

#8-ABUNDANCIA: Peruvian export has a Gulfstream allowance win among 3 domestic starts since arriving. She's had significant spacing between starts and a couple of local workouts over the track in preparation. First try beyond a mile since leaving Peru, where she showed plenty of stamina. Pieces to like, dislike.

Most Certain Exotics Contender:
MORNING MATCHA is 21-26 in the trifecta lifetime, including 3-3 in Delaware Park stakes. She's my play Sunday.
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Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
QUEEN OF MISSOULA should be running late when others are tired, and that could land a share.​

Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$70 win MORNING MATCHA. $10 exacta box MORNING MATCHA and WET PAINT ($20). $5 exacta box MORNING MATCH and HONOR D LADY ($10).