Tawny Port Tops $200K Cape Henlopen

Tawny Port becomes a winner on turf in the John’s Call Aug. 23 at Saratoga (Chelsea Durand)

Chris Sobocinski/Delaware Park

WILMINGTON, Del.— Peachtree Stable’s Tawny Port tops a field of ten entered in the $200,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes this Saturday. The mile and a half turf affair for 3-year-olds and upward has been carded as the seventh race with an approximate post time of 3:30 pm.

The Kentucky-bred trained by Christophe Clement is making only his third start on the grass from 14 career starts. In his most recent outing the 4-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile won the mile and five eighths $135,000 John’s Call Stakes over a firm Saratoga turf course on August 23.

Previously, he ran fifth in the mile and three eighths Grade II $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes over a good Saratoga turf course on July 30. Last year, he posted a record of three wins, a second and a third from eight starts including victories in the Grade III Lexington Stakes at Keeneland and Grade III Ohio Derby at Thistledown and a seventh in the Grade I Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. His lifetime record is five wins, a second and a third from 14 starts with earnings of $914,500.

Three Diamonds Farm’s Cross Border will be seeking his first flat victory since 2021, but the 9-year-old son of English Channel has plenty of back class and has been Graded stakes placed on multiple occasions including a victory in the mile and three eighths Grade II Bowling Green Stakes on the Saratoga turf course on July 31, 2021. His last victory though was over the hurdles at Aiken on March 25. The New York-bred trained by Michael Maker may be rounding back into his flat form based upon his most recent when he ran a solid third in a mile and three sixteenths turf allowance at Saratoga on August 26. He has career mark of 12 wins, eight seconds and seven thirds from 51 starts with earnings of $1,213,258.

“In his last, he ran a great race,” said trainer Michael J. Maker. “If he runs back to that effort, he should be a solid contender here.”

$200,000 Kent Stakes. For 3-year-olds and upward at a mile and a half (turf)