Royal Delta barely bags the Delaware Handicap on 21st July, 2012
It was believed that a battle between Royal Delta and Awesome Maria was inevitable in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on 21st July, 2012.
However, it was the long shot Tiz Miz Sue, who nearly had the better of the 2011, 3-year-old champion filly, Royal Delta.
Royal Delta held on, and kept Tiz Miz Sue’s solid run in the stretch at bay by a head, as Awesome Maria finished a non-threatening third.
Covering a distance of 1 ¼ miles, it was the Bill Mott trained, Royal Delta who prevailed, and broke through the wire a neck before Steve Hobby’s charge Tiz Miz Sue, while the Todd Pletcher trained, Awesome Maria fell 5 ¾ lengths behind the runner-up.
Paired with rider Mike Smith, Royal Delta was determined to win the race as soon as she broke from the gate.
The pace of the race was set by, Love And Pride, who completed the quarter-mile in 22.87 seconds and half-mile in 45.70 seconds, as Cash For Clunkers and Awesome Maria followed her in second and third place, while Royal Delta sat in fourth.
Awesome Maria with rider Ramon Dominguez on her back, took the lead and completed six furlongs in 1 minute and 09.80 seconds.
That was when Royal Delta made her move, and took the lead and maintained it until the end, as she completed the race in 2 minutes and 03.51 seconds.
The winning trainer was immensely pleased with the performance of the four-year-old filly as he remarked:
"She proved to be the best," the trainer stated. "She was game in victory. She did a lot of work around the turn and early in the stretch. She made the lead a little early, but she got it done."
Ramon Dominguez, Awesome Maria’s rider, was satisfied with third place but his disappointment was apparent when he said:
“It just did not set up at all for us. I was happy we finished third, but the race did not set up at all the way I envisioned the race."
Awesome Maria and Royal Delta previously collided in the Grade 3 Sabin Stakes at Gulfstream Park, where Awesome Maria triumphed but things did not go so well this time.
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