Royal Delta in supreme form ahead of the Beldame Invitational
Trainer Bill Mott would be pleased to see his 2011 champion 3-year-old filly, Royal Delta, posting couple of lightning fast workouts in September ahead of the Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame Invitational at Belmont Park going over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on 29 September.
The Beldame Invitational will serve as a stepping stone toward the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic, a race that was last year won by Royal Delta, which eventually earned her the Eclipse Award for the champion North American 3-year-old filly.
Out of A. P. Indy mare Delta Princess, Royal Delta is in magnificent form, and her previous works reflect that.
The 4-year-old filly worked at Belmont Park all September, posted her first work of the month by going five furlongs in 59.24 seconds on 16 September, and was the second fastest out of 24 runners over the same distance.
On 24 September, Bill Mott wanted Royal Delta to go a little slower, but the Empire Maker filly under exercise rider Rodolphe Brisset zipped four furlongs in a blazing 47.58 seconds, which turned out to be the 10th fastest at the distance out of 42.
“We’ve been cognizant that the last three works she’s been very fast,” Mott said. “She does it without ever letting her run. I mean, she’s got the ability to run fast. She always goes a second faster than what the rider thinks he’s going.”
Bred in Kentucky by Palides Investments and owned by Besilu Stables, Royal Delta showed glimpses of her last year’s championship form in the Grade 2 Fleur De Lis at Churchill Downs back in June, where she downed Afleeting Lady by eight lengths to post the first victory of the season.
Royal Delta than grinded a neck victory over, Tiz Miz Sue, to claim the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap, but failed to capture the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, where she lost to winner, Love and Pride.
“She didn’t run bad. We gave the winner 10 pounds, we got beat,” Mott said. “There was an easy pace up front when It’s Tricky stumbled, and it changed the complexion of the race.”
In her championship year, Royal Delta lost the Beldame Invitational to Havre de Grace.
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