Silver Slugger Up to the Plate for Wilmington 

Silver Slugger cruised to 4½-length win in Rumson Stakes August 31 at Monmouth Park. (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)

McPeek Trainee Gould’s Gold Heads Battery Park 

Delaware Handicap News & Notes

WILMINGTON, Del.— Victoria’s Ranch’s Silver Slugger tops a field of eight entered in the $100,000 Wilmington Stakes this Sunday. The six-furlong affair for 3-year-olds and upward has been carded as the sixth race with an approximate post time of 3:40 pm.

The 5-year-old son of Cairo Prince likes to win and often. The Kentucky-bred trained by Juan Carlos Avila has a career record of eight wins and two seconds from 14 starts with earnings of $229,260. In his most recent, he posted a 4 ½-length score in the five furlong $100,000 Rumson at Monmouth Park on August 31. 

After nearly a six-month layoff, John Holleman’s Ninja Warrior will make his return. In his last, the 6-year-old son of Speightstown ran second in the six-furlong restricted $145,000 Eclipse Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 29. Previously, the Kentucky-bred trained by Greg Compton posted a half length score in a six-furlong allowance at Oaklawn Park on February 23. He has a career record of six wins and four seconds from 17 starts with earnings of $342,395.

“He is ready to run,” said trainer Greg Compton. “He is training good, and he is at Delaware Park so this is a good spot and time for him to comeback. The break we gave him in March was by design because he is the kind of horse that needs some time occasionally. He is a really nice horse, but he also must be managed well, so when he needs time, you have got to give it to him. Now is the time for him to get back at it and I think he should run well on Sunday.” 

$100,000 Wilmington Stakes

For 3-year-olds & upward at six furlongs

McPeek Trainee Gould’s Gold Heads Battery Park 

4 G Racing, Lance Gasaway and Magdalena Racing’s Gould’s Gold tops a field of seven in the $200,000 Battery Park at Delaware Park this Sunday. The mile and an eighth test for 3-year-olds and upward has been carded as the tenth race with an approximate post time of 5:52 p.m. 

In his most recent, 4-year-old son of Goldenscents ran third in the mile and eighth $1,000,000 Grade II Charles Town Classic on August 22. Previously, the Kentucky-bred trained by Kenneth McPeek ran third in the mile and an eighth $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows on July 5.  He sports a career record of three wins, two seconds and four thirds with earnings of $574,683.

$200,000 Battery Park Stakes

For 3-year-olds and up at a mile and a eighth