Timeform's US team pick out their three best bets for Monday...
"Sparkling Jewel has been running with credit in allowance races on both turf and dirt..."
The opener at Delaware Park (18:15 BST) also produces the best bet of the day in the shape of House Money, who was an impressive winner of a similar contest last month. House Money had shown glimpses of promise when running in Florida during the winter, but was essentially a little out of her depth in stakes and allowance races. The drop into starter allowance company (non-claiming races that are primarily for claiming-class horses) seemed to do the trick as she powered home by nearly six lengths. This starter event is a tad stronger but House Money should still take all the beating.
Steel Curtain is likely to go off a warm order in race 3 at Delaware (19:09 BST), given that he's taking s fairly steep class drop from $20k claiming company to this $7.5k level. He was beaten a long way into fourth in that last race, though, and his prior form doesn't give him much, if anything, in hand of a fair few of today's rivals. He also lacks early speed, which could well compromise him in a race that looks likely to unfold at a steady tempo.
On a quiet day, it may well to pay to stick with Delaware for our final selection in race 8, a dirt claimer over an extended mile (20:57 BST). Sparkling Jewel has been running with credit in allowance races on both turf and dirt, so is versatile in terms of surface. His last two efforts - one on turf, one on dirt - have both been solid allowance runs, without suggesting he was good enough to win at that level, and he'll be much more at home in the claiming ranks. A repeat of his last dirt effort at Pimlico would be more than good enough to take this.
Timeform US Smart Plays
Delaware race 1 (18:15 BST) win back #2 HOUSE MONEY @ 3.02/1 or longer
Delaware race 3 (19:09 BST) win lay #6 STEEL CURTAIN @ 3.211/5 or shorter
Delaware race 8 (20:57 BST) win back #4 SPARKLING JEWEL @ 3.185/40 or longer