Royal Delta to take a similar path as of the championship season
It was earlier thought that Royal Delta will take a different challenge this year, starting with challenging the males in the Grade 1, $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, but according to Benjamin Leon Jr. of Besilu Stables on 4 October, 2012, that last year’s
champion 3-year-old filly will instead try to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic for the second time, and then she will race again in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in 2013, after her unplaced finish in this season’s edition of the world’s richest
race.
The 4-year-old filly trained by Bill Mott is currently exiting a victory in the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational, where she went all out for a massive victory at Belmont Park.
So far, the Empire Maker filly has been right up there in races this season with victories in Grade 2 Fleur De Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap, and now the Beldame Invitational.
She was unfortunate to miss out on her seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Sabin Stakes, where she finished second to, Awesome Maria, and recently in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga where she ended as a runner-up to Love and Pride.
“She is capable of competing with the males, but we have a plan that I don't want to deviate from," said Leon. "Then we'll run her in a prep race in February and then we'll take her to Dubai to give her a second shot there to compete with the males, the
best in the world. If she runs a good race, she should be able to win. Then we'll take it one step at a time. Down the road, we should have the opportunity to see her compete in the Breeders' Cup Classic."
Last season, Royal Delta finished second in the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational and followed up with a victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.
She is in winning form, but this will be her first time running over at Santa Anita, which in itself will present a huge challenge for the Eclipse Award winning filly.
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