Update: Royal Delta Wins Sabin; Headed to Dubai
Feb 14, 2013 22:45:51 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Feb 14, 2013 22:45:51 GMT -5
Royal Delta returns in Sabin
Royal Delta was the star of Breeders' Cup Friday last November (Breeders' Cup Ltd.)
Dual champion Royal Delta defended her title in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic last November at Santa Anita, but don't count on history repeating itself at Gulfstream Park in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Sabin.
The daughter of Empire Maker followed up her 2011 Ladies' Classic triumph with a distant second-place finish in her four-year-old debut last February in the Sabin, finishing eight lengths behind favored Awesome Maria. In the aftermath of Royal Delta's 2012 Breeders' Cup score, trainer Bill Mott has seen physical evidence that the five-year-old is ready to offer a better performance this year in the 1 1/16-mile stakes for fillies and mares.
"She's stronger than last year. I think the campaign at four was easier than the campaign at three. She beat older mares in the (2011) Breeders' Cup. I think she was a little tired, a little light (last year)," Mott explained. "She's a bigger, stronger filly this year. I think she's grown into her frame a bit more."
A bigger, stronger Royal Delta is almost unimaginable for a two-time Eclipse Award winner who has towered over the competition during her career. In addition to winning the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic twice, the Kentucky-bred star has scored victories in the Grade 1 Beldame, Grade 1 Alabama, Grade 2 Delaware Handicap, Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and Grade 2 Fleur de Lis.
Purchased at auction by Benjamin Leon's Besilu Stables for $8.5 million following her 2011 Ladies' Classic score, Royal Delta will once again prep for the Group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 30 at Meydan in the Sabin. Last year, she followed up her runner-up effort in the Sabin with a ninth-place finish against an international group of male stars in the World Cup.
"I think she was a victim of a rough trip over there," Mott said. "She went into the race well. It was just that she was a victim of bad racing luck."
Royal Delta stumbled at the start of the 1 1/4-mile World Cup over the synthetic Tapeta surface and was never a factor while finishing 8 1/2 lengths behind the winner.
"With better racing luck, I think we'd have had a better finish," Mott said. "I'm not saying she would have won. I'm just saying she would have had a closer finish."
Royal Delta is scheduled to be ridden Sunday by Mike Smith, who won four of five starts since becoming her jockey following last year's World Cup disappointment. Their only loss came as a nose second in the Personal Ensign Handicap in late August at Saratoga.
Royal Delta's competition in the Sabin includes a fellow Empire Maker filly in Grace Hall. That one was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in her first try against older fillies and mares, and will be making her four-year-old debut in the Sabin.
Grace Hall was favored in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks last May off a 6 1/2-length romp in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks and a neck second in the Grade 2 Davona Dale. She wound up third under the Twin Spires, but rebounded to take the Grade 2 Delaware two months later by 3 3/4 lengths.
A dismal fifth-place effort followed in the Grade 1 Alabama, but the Tony Dutrow pupil entered the Breeders' Cup off an easy 5 3/4-length win in the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks. Joel Rosario will take the reins for the first time on the filly in the Sabin.
Rosario will actually be switching mounts with Javier Castellano, who rode Grace Hall in five of her last six races. Castellano has the call on One Last Dance in Sunday's Sabin, taking over the mount from Rosario who rode the Officer mare to a well-beaten fourth against optional claiming rivals in her five-year-old debut on January 12.
My Pal Chrisy will also get a jockey change for the Sabin. The Alex's Pal mare has been ridden by Luca Panici for the majority of her career, but will have Jesus Castanon aboard for her second start of the year. The bay five-year-old, who owns three stakes scores and a Grade 3 placing from the 2011 Azalea, was most recently seen finishing third in the Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff on January 19.
All for Thee completes the Sabin field for trainer Chris Block. The five-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality captured the Go for Wand and ran third in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks in 2011, her best efforts in four tries against stakes company, and will keep Jose Lezcano aboard on Sunday.
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Royal Delta was the star of Breeders' Cup Friday last November (Breeders' Cup Ltd.)
Dual champion Royal Delta defended her title in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic last November at Santa Anita, but don't count on history repeating itself at Gulfstream Park in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Sabin.
The daughter of Empire Maker followed up her 2011 Ladies' Classic triumph with a distant second-place finish in her four-year-old debut last February in the Sabin, finishing eight lengths behind favored Awesome Maria. In the aftermath of Royal Delta's 2012 Breeders' Cup score, trainer Bill Mott has seen physical evidence that the five-year-old is ready to offer a better performance this year in the 1 1/16-mile stakes for fillies and mares.
"She's stronger than last year. I think the campaign at four was easier than the campaign at three. She beat older mares in the (2011) Breeders' Cup. I think she was a little tired, a little light (last year)," Mott explained. "She's a bigger, stronger filly this year. I think she's grown into her frame a bit more."
A bigger, stronger Royal Delta is almost unimaginable for a two-time Eclipse Award winner who has towered over the competition during her career. In addition to winning the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic twice, the Kentucky-bred star has scored victories in the Grade 1 Beldame, Grade 1 Alabama, Grade 2 Delaware Handicap, Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and Grade 2 Fleur de Lis.
Purchased at auction by Benjamin Leon's Besilu Stables for $8.5 million following her 2011 Ladies' Classic score, Royal Delta will once again prep for the Group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 30 at Meydan in the Sabin. Last year, she followed up her runner-up effort in the Sabin with a ninth-place finish against an international group of male stars in the World Cup.
"I think she was a victim of a rough trip over there," Mott said. "She went into the race well. It was just that she was a victim of bad racing luck."
Royal Delta stumbled at the start of the 1 1/4-mile World Cup over the synthetic Tapeta surface and was never a factor while finishing 8 1/2 lengths behind the winner.
"With better racing luck, I think we'd have had a better finish," Mott said. "I'm not saying she would have won. I'm just saying she would have had a closer finish."
Royal Delta is scheduled to be ridden Sunday by Mike Smith, who won four of five starts since becoming her jockey following last year's World Cup disappointment. Their only loss came as a nose second in the Personal Ensign Handicap in late August at Saratoga.
Royal Delta's competition in the Sabin includes a fellow Empire Maker filly in Grace Hall. That one was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in her first try against older fillies and mares, and will be making her four-year-old debut in the Sabin.
Grace Hall was favored in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks last May off a 6 1/2-length romp in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks and a neck second in the Grade 2 Davona Dale. She wound up third under the Twin Spires, but rebounded to take the Grade 2 Delaware two months later by 3 3/4 lengths.
A dismal fifth-place effort followed in the Grade 1 Alabama, but the Tony Dutrow pupil entered the Breeders' Cup off an easy 5 3/4-length win in the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks. Joel Rosario will take the reins for the first time on the filly in the Sabin.
Rosario will actually be switching mounts with Javier Castellano, who rode Grace Hall in five of her last six races. Castellano has the call on One Last Dance in Sunday's Sabin, taking over the mount from Rosario who rode the Officer mare to a well-beaten fourth against optional claiming rivals in her five-year-old debut on January 12.
My Pal Chrisy will also get a jockey change for the Sabin. The Alex's Pal mare has been ridden by Luca Panici for the majority of her career, but will have Jesus Castanon aboard for her second start of the year. The bay five-year-old, who owns three stakes scores and a Grade 3 placing from the 2011 Azalea, was most recently seen finishing third in the Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff on January 19.
All for Thee completes the Sabin field for trainer Chris Block. The five-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality captured the Go for Wand and ran third in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks in 2011, her best efforts in four tries against stakes company, and will keep Jose Lezcano aboard on Sunday.
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