Royal Delta gets back to take revenge in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga
The Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan winner, Royal Delta, added the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes to her resume as she took charge and made a mockery of her competition, which consisted of It’s Tricky and Plum Pretty, both big grade 1 winners.
William Mott trained 3-year-old filly had been playing catch-up in the 3-year-old division, or so it seemed until she landed the $500,000 Grade 1 Alabama Stakes on 20 August, 2011 at Saratoga dirt, by virtue of her prominent performance.
Royal Delta started the race under her usual jockey, Jose Lezcano, to top the classic distance of 1 ¼ miles at Saratoga, up against top fillies like, Plum Pretty, It’s Tricky and St John’s River.
The Queen Plate winner, Inglorious was also contesting for the prize but after the run it was evident that she is no more than a Canadian Poly Track runner. She was also the 2-1 second choice, surprisingly.
The daughter of Empire Maker out of Delta Princess by A.P. Indy, Royal Delta, started off the race by stalking the two protagonists, It’s Tricky and Plum Pretty.
The tracking went on for more than a mile, as jockey Jose Lezcano guided his filly off the rail and picked her up in the upper stretch 3 2 furlongs out.
Royal Delta gave her accomplished opponents a run for their money as she recognised that her foes are weakening through the course as Plum Pretty was the first one to wilt.
That was the cue for Jose Lezcano as Royal Delta spurted past in the closing stages to defeat It’s Tricky in the 131st Alabama Stakes by 5 ½ lengths. Slashing the dreams of It’s Tricky to win the Triple Tiara after 18 long years.
It’s Tricky was coming off two consecutive grade 1 wins, and if she had bagged the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes, then she would have won the Triple Tiara and without a doubt had become the top filly in the 3-year-old division.
On the other hand, Royal Delta is now is 4 of 6 starts, including a win in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico under Jose Lezcano.
The 1 1/8 mile event reeled in competition like Buster’s Ready and Hot Summer, but Royal Delta defeated them both to win her first graded stakes race.
At Saratoga, prior to the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes, the filly ran on the racecourse once before and that too in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on 23 July, 2011.
Royal Delta finished third on the day, beaten by It’s Tricky and Plum Pretty. Her next goal is to run in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic at Churchill Downs on 4 November, 2011.
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