Evan Hammonds recaps the Travers Stakes, Personal Ensign, Pacific Classic, and more!
Love and Pride, staked to a daylight lead in the stretch by John Velazquez, denied the late bid of 3-5 pick Royal Delta to earn her first grade I victory in the $600,000 Personal Ensign Stakes Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Royal Delta will make her first start at Saratoga since winning the 2011 Alabama (gr. I) as the 124-pound highweight in the Personal Ensign Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 26.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
It's a good time to be Kiaran McLaughlin, but don't confuse that with an easy time. The trainer has his hands full conditioning and placing top runners for Godolphin Racing with year-end goals in mind.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Besilu Stable's Royal Delta, the reigning 3-year-old filly champion and 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner looms an imposing favorite in the Personal Ensign for trainer Bill Mott.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Besilu Stables' Royal Delta put in her final serious work for the Aug. 26 Personal Ensign Invitational (gr. I), breezing four furlongs in a bullet :48.95 under exercise rider Rodolphe Brisset Aug. 20 at Saratoga Race Course.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Bill Mott pair work for the Personal Ensign Stakes and Woodward Stakes, respectively.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Grade I winners Ron the Greek and Flat Out are on target for the Aug. 4 race.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Besilu Stables' Royal Delta held off a late challenger to win the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II) by a neck at Delaware Park July 21, but it wasn't the nemesis everyone thought she'd face near the wire.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Finnegans Wake looks live in Va. Derby.
Tom and Pete handicap the Delaware Handicap and Virginia Derby.
Besilu Stables' Royal Delta headlines the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II) at Delaware Park July 21, but the champion filly will have to fend off an old nemesis in Awesome Maria.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Besilu Stable's Royal Delta worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 July 15 and will ship to Delaware Park for the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II) July 21, trainer Bill Mott said.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Will Royal Delta take on the boys at the Breeders' Cup?
Evan Hammonds recaps Ron The Greek in the Stephen Foster H., Royal Delta in the Fleur de Lis and more!
Images from the great racing on Stephen Foster Day 2012.
Royal Delta returns to the scene of her Breeders' Cup triumph last fall and wins the Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) by eight lengths.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Besilu's Stable's Royal Delta looks to rebound off a disappointing run in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) when she takes on five others in the $150,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes June 16 at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Royal Delta, last year's champion 3-year-old filly, will return to Churchill Downs for the first time since she capped her sophomore season with a victory in the Ladies' Classic in the Fleur de Lis.
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Five-time graded stakes winner Winter Memories is on track to have another big season, according to trainer Jimmy Toner, as she prepares for her 4-year-old bow in the $150,000 Beaugay (gr. IIIT) on May 5 at Belmont Park.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Life doesn't always follow the path of hopes and dreams.
While champion Royal Delta spent another morning turning heads as she soared around Meydan on March 30, her owner and jockey were living out the dream with which she has gifted them.
For Royal Delta, a big part of her daily routine revolves around eating. And she approaches her meals with the same kind of enthusiasm that she has for running.
Dick Powell gives his selections for the Dubai World Cup program March 31 at Meydan Racecourse, including the Sheema Classic, Duty Free, Golden Shaheen, Al Quoz Sprint, and of course, the $10 million main event.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
From the time she zipped through three furlongs down the stretch as a light sharpener for the world's richest race until post positions were drawn more than eight hours later, trainer Bill Mott wouldn't have changed a thing.
A full field of 14 will go to the post in the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (UAE-I) at Meydan Racecourse March 31.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
With her bid for history in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-gr. I) only four days away, Royal Delta is feeling, as trainer Bill Mott put it with a delighted grin, 'sassy.'
Gaining more poise with each day she trains at Meydan, champion Royal Delta was able to share some of her self-assurance with another American runner in Dubai on March 26, guiding UAE Derby (UAE-gr. II) contender Lucky Chappy
Royal Delta galloped around Meydan Racecourse just after sunrise on March 25 and then returned to school in the paddock as the last rays of daylight tickled the towers of Dubai's emphatic skyline
Game On Dude worked four furlongs in :48 2/5 at Meydan March 26 in preparation for a start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 31 at the Dubai racecourse.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Even in the dim half light between night and morning, there was no mistaking her.
America's contenders for the $27 million Dubai World Cup program, including champion Royal Delta and multiple grade I winner Game On Dude, have landed safely in Dubai and are in good health after the long flight from Florida.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Benjamin Leon Jr. is ready for his international adventure with Royal Delta. The 4-year-old daughter of Empire Maker is scheduled to run in the 17th edition of the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 31.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
At least 48 grade/group I winners and more than 20 champions or classic winners are expected to meet in what will be the world's richest day of racing, the $27 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) program at Meydan March 31.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
E. Paul Robsham Stables' Awesome Maria, who hadn't raced since last June, destroyed four foes, including champion Royal Delta, to win the $98,000 Sabin Stakes (gr. III) by eight lengths at Gulfstream Park Feb. 25.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
The weekend of Feb. 25-26 is loaded with important races, including the Fountain of Youth.
More than three months after winning the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I) and locking up champion 3-year-old filly honors, Royal Delta will begin her 2012 season in the Sabin Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 25 at Gulfstream.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Royal Delta, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2011, will make her 2012 debut in the Sabin Stakes (gr. III) "barring any complications," according to the Daily Racing Form.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Game On Dude, who captured the Feb. 5 San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) by 5 lengths, is the leader on the first National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll for 2012.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Champion Royal Delta works six furlongs in 1:16.30 Feb. 9 at Payson Park on her way toward the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). At Palm Meadows, Godolphin's Consortium drills a half-mile in :50.90.
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Four Eclipse Award winners are among the international cast of horses nominated to the $27.25 million Dubai World Cup card at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, March 31.
Monday, January 23, 2012
A fourth consecutive HOY title by a female is very possible for 2012.
Images from the 41st annual Eclipse Awards.
Royal Delta had a huge year in 2011, both on the racetrack and in the auction ring, and the filly will kick off 2012 with an Eclipse Award as new owner Ben Leon Jr. points her toward greater accomplishments.
Monday, January 16, 2012
In the Horse of the Year category, fans made the multiple grade I winner Havre de Grace their top pick with 4,249 votes.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Royal Delta, the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) winner and likely champion 3-year-old female, had her first official work of the year Jan. 10 at Payson Park Training Center in Florida.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
From Jan. 5 through March 31, the Dubai Carnival at Meydan features the world's best horses throughout 16 racing programs worth more than $38 million.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Royal Delta, the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) winner who later sold for $8.5 million, is back with trainer Bill Mott after spending some time at owner Benjamin Leon Jr.'s farm.
Monday, December 05, 2011
Royal Delta isn't as competitive as her mother, but has more natural ability
Empire Way, a full brother to 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Royal Delta, makes his stakes debut in the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) on Thanksgiving Day at Hollywood Park Nov. 24.
Sunday, November 20, 2011