Royal Delta all set to defend her title in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic
The Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic has reeled in a deep field with seven Grade 1 winners vying for victory in the 1 1/8 mile event, and out of those seven, the defending champion Royal Delta will look to retain her title after a busy 4-year-old campaign.
Trainer Bill Mott was considering the Grade 1, $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic for Royal Delta, but then leaned toward the Ladies’ Classic, which by no means will be any easier than last year.
The last year’s winner went back to track on Tuesday, and was not having problems with the small cut she sustained earlier on her hip.
No doubt, this year’s field is the strongest turned up in recent memory, with the likes of My Miss Aurelia, Questing, Include Me Out, Grace Hall, Class Included, Awesome Feather, Love and Pride, and the defending champion Royal Delta makes it one of the most exciting races on both cards of the Breeders’ Cup.
"There is no shortage of champions in there," Bill Mott said referring to his trainee Royal Delta, and unbeaten fillies My Miss Aurelia and Awesome Feather.
"You always want definition," My Miss Aurelia's trainer Steve Asmussen said. "This race is going to define them."
The 4-year-old Empire Maker dark bay filly didn’t have a champion like season by any stretch of imagination, as she was placed second in her seasonal debut at Gulfstream Park, the Grade 3 Sabin Stakes, and then the trip to Meydan, where she was never in contention and finished 9th in the Dubai World Cup.
Wake up call was needed, and two back-to-back defeats had Mott rearing for a victory, and the veteran horseman chose Churchill Downs for Royal Delta’s third start of the season, the venue where she registered her last victory.
The Fleur de Lis Handicap gave flight, and Royal Delta was up and running with another victory in the Delaware Handicap, that followed by a second place finish in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Handicap, but the prep race leading up to the Ladies’ Classic was a dream run, when she downed her opponents to win the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park.
Besilu Stables’ 3-year-old champion filly of 2011 will break from post number six in a field of eight, with the favoured odds of 9 to 5 under Mike Smith carrying 124 pounds.
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