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.
Royal Delta, last year's champion 3-year-old filly, is the 124-pound highweight for the Delaware Handicap, which is run at 1 1/4 miles. Mott said she will ship from New York the morning of the race.
Royal Delta, a 4-year-old filly by Empire Maker , won the grade II Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs by eight lengths in her last start June 16. It was her first race since a trip to Dubai for the World Cup (UAE-I) in late March.
"From this time last year, she is more mature and more professional at this stage of the year," Mott told Delaware Park racing officials. "The distance does not bother me, but I have heard it can be tough to ship into Delaware."
Royal Delta won last year's Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga Race Course but never has raced at Delaware Park.
The field for the Delaware Handicap will be drawn July 18. Trainer Rick Violette Jr. told track officials Cash for Clunkers, second to It's Tricky in the one-turn Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) in late May, will be entered.
"Pedigree-wise, she is supposed to be able to get a mile and a quarter," Violette said. "She is training very, very well so we are looking forward to the race. I think the (distance) around two turns is a better race for her. I think this race is very much within her scope, so I am very excited about trying it."
Cash for Clunkers, a 4-year-old filly by Tiznow , is owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence.
