Grade II winner Honey Ryder tops a large field of fillies and mares set for Saturday's $300,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Breeders' Cup Handicap over the turf at Delaware Park.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Glencrest Farm, the daughter of Lasting Approval will be looking to rebound after a fifth-place finish in the May 22 Sheepshead Bay Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont going 1 3/8 miles, the same distance as Saturday's race.
Bred in Kentucky by Wimborne Farm, Honey Ryder has won two of four starts this year, all in graded company. After finishing fourth in her first start in the Suwannee River Handicap (gr. IIIT) in February, the 4-year-old filly posted a neck score in the Very One Handicap (gr. IIIT) in March, followed by a half-length score in the Orchid Handicap (gr. IIT) in April. All three races were over the turf at Gulfstream Park.
Edgar Prado will take the reins aboard Honey Ryder for the first time in Saturday' race. The pair will break from the inside in a 12-horse field that could grow to 15 with two "also eligible" entrants and one "main-track-only" entrant.
Argentine-bred Natalie Beach has drawn the second co-highweight of 117, along with New York-bred Kate Winslet.
Trained by James Toner for Castletop Stable, Natalie Beach has had practice at Belmont this spring, winning two of two starts at the New York track before she is set to take on foes at Delaware. The 5-year-old daughter of Tempranero won the 1 3/8-mile England's Legends Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Broad Hopes in her previous start June 8.
A group winner in her native country, Natalie Beach will break from post eight under jockey Mario Pino. The mare was bred by Alfredo Camogli and Haras Rio Claro, S.A.
Kate Winslet, the horse not the actress, will make an appearance at Delaware Park Saturday looking for her first North American win. Trained by Richard Violette Jr. for Team Valor Stables, the 4-year-old filly hasn't visited the winners' circle since posting a one-length score in the Grand Prix Inter-Regional des 3 Ans in France last September.
Bred by the late John Franks, Kate Winslet will be starting from gate 12. A rider has not been assigned yet.
$300,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Breeders' Cup Handicap, Delaware Park, July 16, Race 9, 1 3/8 miles, turf, 3-years-old and upward, fillies and mares, approximate local post time: 4:21 p.m. P -- Horse, Weight, Jockey
1 Honey Ryder, 120, Edgar S. Prado
2 Orkan, 114, Jose Lezcano
3 Joyful Chaos, 113, Jeremy Rose
4 Conspiring, 114, Gavin Faulkner
5 Sweet Science,114, Rafael Bejarano
6 Missmaybe, 113, Rodrigo Madrigal Jr.
7 Baxter Hall, 114, Larry Melancon
8 Natalie Beach (ARG), 117, Mario G. Pino
9 Gijima,112, Jose C. Caraballo
10 With Affection, 117, Richard Monterrey
11 Victory Spirit, 112, (No Rider)
12 Kate Winslet, 117, (No Rider)
AE Vallera (GER), 114, Stewart Elliott
AE Bay Tree, (IRE), 112, Rafael Bejarano
MTO Becky in Pink, 114, (No Rider)
