Trainer Alan Goldberg and owner Richard Santulli look to hold a powerful hand in the $200,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park July 13 when they send out the entry of Tannery and Laughing in the 1 3/8-mile turf event. It is not certain, however, that both will start, as Goldberg has named jockey Angel Serpa on both fillies.
Tannery, an Irish-bred 4-year-old daughter of Dylan Thomas, scored a 10-1 upset in the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park May 25, and appears to be a much better horse on soft ground, as indicated by her Sheepshead Bay victory and a strong fourth-place finish in last year’s Long Island Handicap (gr. IIIT). She has not fared as well on firm going, finishing last of eight in the New York Stakes (gr. IIT) in her last start, but was a fast-closing third in the Garden City Stakes (gr. IT) on firm ground in her U.S. debut last September. Under the allowance conditions of the Dick Memorial, she will have to carry top weight of 123 pounds.
The Irish-bred Laughing, second highweight with 121 pounds, has been the more consistent of the two since arriving in the U.S. for good in April 2012. In her past seven starts, she has finished in the money in six of them, capturing the Matchmaker Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Monmouth Park last July and scoring an impressive win over Dayatthespa in the June 29 Eatontown Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Monmouth in her most recent start.
Whether Goldberg runs one or both fillies, he will have to face a three-pronged assault from trainer Graham Motion, who has entered Qushchi, Game Fair, and Valiant Girl. Of these, Qushchi is the most accomplished, finishing second by a head in the May 18 Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs in her last start and running a strong third in the April 25 Bewitch Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland in her previous try.
But the horse to beat could be the Al Stall-trained Treasured Up, who defeated Qushchi in the Keertana. The 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro also placed in the 2012 Regret Stakes (gr. IIIT) and was fourth in that year's Pucker Up (gr. IIIT) and Edgewood Stakes. She will be ridden by Sahaun Bridgmohan.
Other formidable foes are the Jonathan Sheppard-trained Angel Terrace, winner of last year’s Valley View Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland, and the Christophe Clement-trained Aigue Marine. The daughter of Galileo finished a fast-closing third in the 2012 Long Island Handicap in her U.S. debut, but hasn’t run since finishing seventh in the Orchid Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park March 30.
Rounding out the 10-horse field are Clare Skies Ahead, third in the recent All Along Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Colonial Downs, and Explainable, an allowance winner at Pimlico Race Course in her last start.
$200,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial (gr. IIIT, Delaware Park, approximate post time 5:15 p.m. EDT), fillies and mares, 3YOs and up, 1 3/8 miles (turf)
2. Treasured Up (KY), S X Bridgmohan, 117, A.M. Stall Jr.
3. Game Fair (KY), No Rider, 117, G.H. Motion
4. Explainable (KY), L Garcia, 117, A, Delacour
5. Laughing (IRE), A. Serpa, 121, A. Goldberg
6. Clare Skies Ahead (KY), M. Rispoli, 117, F. Stites
7. Tannery (IRE), A. Serpa, 123, A. Goldberg
8. Qushchi (GB), J. Rose, 117, G. M Motion
9. Valiant Girl (GB), D.E. Centeno, 117, G.M. Motion
10. Aigue Marine (GB), E.S. Prado, 117, C. Clement