Preparing for her summer-fall campaign, champion older mare Royal Delta breezed five furlongs in :59.60 Sunday, June 2 on the main track at Belmont Park.
Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is preparing Besilu Stables' Royal Delta for a start in the June 15 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, a race she won last year by eight lengths. Like last year, the Fleur de Lis will be the first start for Royal Delta after racing in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (UAE-I).
Royal Delta has had four official workouts since her off-the-board World Cup finish March 30 at Meydan. She has cranked things up in her two most recent efforts, earning the bullet May 27 at Belmont when she completed five furlongs in :59.01, the fastest of 28 moves at the distance. Her June 2nd breeze ranked third-fastest of 26 at the distance.
Last year Royal Delta, by Empire Maker —Delta Princess, by A.P. Indy, won the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis and three other graded stakes races, including her second straight score in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I) to secure champion older mare honors.