The unbeaten Afleet Alex, who demolished a deep field in Saratoga's Sanford (gr. II) on the second day of the meet, breezed a 'bullet' half-mile over a muddy track at Delaware Park this morning in :46 2/5. The colt is to return to the Spa for Saturday's $250,000 Hopeful (gr. I) at seven furlongs. Others expected for the Hopeful are Consolidator, Devils Disciple, Flamenco, Storm Surge, Wild Nature, and Winning Expression. Proud Accolade remains questionable.
"It was what we were looking for," said trainer Tim Ritchey. "He'll probably van up Friday. The Sanford was a good race. It was all you could ask from a horse."Afleet Alex has won his three career starts by a combined margin of 23 ½ lengths, which has afforded the mid-Atlantic-based Ritchey a taste of the big time."It's great any time you've got a horse like this in the barn," Ritchey said.