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Indian Vale, Asi Siempre headline Delaware Handicap Talented distaffers INDIAN VALE (A.P. Indy) and ASI SIEMPRE (El Prado [Ire]) will square off for the third straight time while taking on seven rivals in Sunday's $1 million Delaware H. (G2) at Delaware Park. This 1 1/4-mile test is shaping up to be a rubber match between the two mares, as Indian Vale won the last event after finishing behind Asi Siempre the time before. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Indian Vale was off for nearly a year, returning in the Next Move H. (G3) at Aqueduct on March 31. She captured that nine-furlong race by 5 1/2 lengths, but bounced a bit in her next start, finishing fourth in the Louisville Breeders' Cup H. (G2). Asi Siempre was just a head back of the winner on that day, and the pair showed up in the Fleur de Lis H. (G2) next out. The Patrick Biancone-trained Asi Siempre rallied from near the back to miss by a half-length to the pacesetting Indian Vale in that event and will try to exact her revenge here. PEAK MARIA'S WAY (Pyramid Peak) will attempt to steal the Delaware for the local team. The gray four-year-old lass has won her last three races over the track, including the Obeah H. and an allowance/optional claiming test in her past two. The Michael Gorham trainee owns a 5-0-0 mark from seven starts at Delaware Park and will keep Joseph Rocco aboard for this one. "She was full of run," said Rocco about the filly's last breeze over the track. "She galloped out good. The last time when I rode her in the Obeah, (Mike) said to wait as long as I can, but she dragged me up to the leader. She went easy and very comfortably and when I asked her to run, she just took off." Gorham is hoping that the hometrack advantage will move his filly into the winner's circle this year. Last year, Peak Maria's Way was fourth in the Delaware Oaks (G2). "She obviously has done well here at Delaware and another obvious big edge is you do not have to ship for the race," he said. "All you have to do is walk out of your own barn to go to the race. There are horses that really like this track and if they do, it is an advantage." Peak Maria's Way drew the rail post under a 115-pound impost and 8-1 on the morning line. To her outside will be LILA PAIGE (Cryptoclearance), Roberto Alvarado Jr., 113, 15-1; Asi Siempre, Edgar Prado, 121, 3-1; UNBRIDLED BELLE (Broken Vow), Ramon Dominguez, 114, 12-1; ICE COOL KITTY (Tomorrow's Cat), Corey Lanerie, 114, 12-1; Indian Vale, John Velazquez, 120, 2-1; PROMENADE GIRL (Carson City), Jeremy Rose, 117, 5-1; DAYTIME PROMISE (Five Star Day) Mario Pino, 112, 12-1; and TAKE A CHECK (Touch Gold), no rider, 111, 20-1. KING OF THE ROXY (Littleexpectations) and XCHANGER (Exchange Rate) will make their returns off running in the Preakness S. (G1) in the $300,000 Barbaro S. (G3), which was formerly known as the Leonard Richards S. Neither colt finished in the top three in the second jewel of the Triple Crown, with King of the Roxy filling out sixth-place and Xchanger running eighth after leading for a brief time. The Pletcher-trained King of the Roxy will be making just his fourth start of the year in the 1 1/16-mile Barbaro S., having captured the Hutcheson S. (G2) in March prior to a second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) to eventual Belmont S. (G1) third-placer Tiago (Pleasant Tap). Dominguez piloted Xchanger in his last race, but will ride King of the Roxy here. Xchanger tried the Preakness after taking the Federico Tesio S. in front-running fashion by 4 3/4 lengths at Pimlico. The Mark Shuman charge won last year's Sapling S. (G3) and will be looking to add another graded win to his record with this one. King of the Roxy will lead the post parade to the gate while carrying 116 pounds as the 2-1 morning-line favorite. Next in line will be REPTILIAN SMARTS (Include), Abel Castellano Jr., 116, 8-1; HAL'S MY HOPE (Halo's Image), Pino, 118, 8-1; POINT BLAKE (Quiet American), no rider, 116, 10-1; PHONE HOME (Phone Trick), Velazquez, 116, 4-1; Xchanger, Prado, 118, 3-1; and LONGLEY (Seeking the Gold), Rose, 116, 6-1. Grade 2 hero SILVER TREE (Hennessy) and Miami Mile Breeders' Cup H. (G3) victor JET PROPULSION (Double Honor) highlight an overflow field of 14 in the $200,000 Caesar Rodney S. going 8 1/2 furlongs on Delaware's turf. Silver Tree, winner of the Appleton H. (G3) in his seasonal bow, returned to the winner's circle last out in an allowance/optional claimer over Belmont's inner turf while Jet Propulsion captured the Miami Mile in front-running style last out. Among those the pair will face on Sunday are Grade 1 winner and Chilean Horse of the Year HOST (Chi) (Hussonet), who posted a three-quarter of a length victory in the Elkwood S. most recently, as well as Grade 3 victor DRUM MAJOR (Dynaformer), who will be making his 2007 debut in this spot. The $100,000 Light Hearted S. for turf distaffers will begin the stakes action on Sunday, with SMART AND FANCY (Not for Love) going for her fourth straight stakes score. The Tony Dutrow-trained four-year-old was last seen taking the Turf Amazon H. in her grass debut, and has been assigned the top weight of 123 pound off those wins. TRULY BLUSHED (Yes It's True), third in the Turf Amazon, returned last out to post a front-running nose victory in the Candy Eclair S. and will be looking to turn the tables on her rival in this five-furlong test.
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