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Royal Delta wins Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic

Dunya News

Royal Delta's victory gave Smith a record 16th Breeders' Cup win.

Royal Deltas repeat victory in the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic has owner Benjamin Leon again dreaming of Dubai.The 4-year-old Royal Delta posted a convincing front-running triumph under Mike Smith on Friday at Santa Anita in the featured race ofthe first day of Breeders Cup action.Having come from behind at Churchill Downs last year, Royal Delta has shown that she has plenty of weapons in her arsenal.Although he opted not to take on the colts in Saturdays $5 million Breeders Cup Classic, Leon said hed like to give Royal Delta another shot in the Dubai World Cup, where she finished a disappointing ninth in March.Our intention is to take her to Dubai to give her one more shot with Mike Smith in order to become the world champ at the Dubai World Cup, Leon said.Trainer Bill Mott said Royal Delta was only improving with age.She was lightly raced as a 2- and 3-year-old and she is a sound mare. The way she is bred, she is bred to get better as she gets older. Im in hopes that shell stay as good next year or even be better.She has to remain healthy, and weve got big plans for her. If there is ever a filly that you could shoot for the moon with, I would say it would probably be one like her.Royal Deltas victory gave Smith a record 16th Breeders Cup win, surpassing the mark of 15 he had shared with now retired jockey Jerry Bailey.He wasnt expecting his mount to set the pace, but after the 8-to-5 favorite broke strong from the gate he said he just let her do her thing.I was always taught on a talented horse you stay out of her way, he said. Shes a true champion, and she showed it today.My Miss Aurelia, winner of last years Juvenile Fillies, was second with Corey Nakatani aboard and Include Me out was third.Questing was pulled up on the back side by jockey Irad Ortiz, although veterinarians didnt find any obvious injury.