Icy Atlantic Slight Choice in Caesar Rodney

(from track report)
Arthur I. Appleton's Icy Atlantic tops the field for the $200,000 Caesar Rodney Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf test that drew 12 entries to Delaware Park Sunday.

In his last start, Icy Atlantic notched a head triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Battlefield Stakes on the Meadowlands turf on June 12. Previously, the 5-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic   ran fourth, beaten a length, in the Miami Breeders' Cup Mile Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Calder turf April 29. The Florida-bred is trained by Todd Pletcher and sports a career record of four wins, eight seconds, and two thirds from 24 starts with earnings of $445,830. Garrett Gomez has the mount on the 7-2 morning line favorite.

Perhaps the top local connection is Cheveley Park Farm's Battle Chant. In his last, the 6-year-old gelded son of Coronado's Quest finished second by a half length in a 1 1/8-mile turf allowance at Delaware Park on June 12. In his only other outing this year, the Kentucky-bred trained by H. Graham Motion ran fifth in the one mile Henry Clark on the Pimlico turf April 29. Last year, he compiled a record of two wins, a second, and a third from six starts. His career record is four wins, four seconds, and five thirds from 24 starts with earnings of $230,444.

Two of the entries in the Caesar Rodney--Mighty Mecke and Due--are entered for the main track only.

$200,000 Caesar Rodney Stakes (Race 9, 4:42 p.m.), 3 & Up, 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Mighty Mecke (FL), no rider, 117, 10/1
2. Minister's Joy (KY), Ramon A. Dominguez, 117, 8/1
3. Battle Chant (KY), Jose A. Santos, 117, 5/1
4. Icy Atlantic (FL), Garrett K. Gomez, 117, 7/2
5. Exterior (KY), Jose C. Caraballo, 117, 15/1
6. Due (MD), A. R. Napravnik, 117, 10/1
7. Foufa's Warrior (MD), Jeremy Rose, 117, 8/1
8. Fishy Advice (KY), no rider, 117, 10/1
9. Capitano (PA), no rider, 117, 6/1
10. Be My Buddy (FL), no rider, 117, 8/1
11. Woodlander (KY), Fernando Jara, 117, 4/1
12. Interpatation (KY), Tom G. Turner, 117, 12/1
Mighty Mecke and Due are entered for the main track only.