The Royal Delta 2024
The Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park drew a full and competitive field of 11 for the Grade 3 mile and a sixteenth race.
The race is what is often referred to as a great betting race and you’ll get no argument from me on that. There is no clear-cut or I should say outstanding favorite, and the race is filled with options.
Soul of an Angel goes from the rail and will be a big price in here. She looks up against it in here and a cut below many of these.
Maryquitecontrary is game and deserves nothing but respect for her resume. Her two longest races are both wins at a one turn mile. In here she will be asked to go an extra sixteenth but around two turns for the first time. If she can bring her run at two turns, you’d be hard pressed to argue against her being a contender. Panici knows and rides her well and will look to make the most of this Grade 3 opportunity.
Magical Lute looks like a fringe player in here. She’d need a career race to make an impact.
Yuki comes in fresh and with a bit of speed. She’ll likely be keen off the bench, but I can’t see her taking these all the way around.
Tizzy in the Sky is another fresh pace player in here, but she will be a short price if not a lukewarm favorite. Todd Pletcher calls the shots and while a contender who can win, she is no cinch at all. If Luis sits and pounces that probably gives her the best shot she has.
Honor D Lady looks interesting. She stays on the dirt which I believe she prefers. She is fresh for a barn good off the bench and gets a decent amount of pace on paper to run at late. I think she is dangerous.
Rosie’s Halo looks a bit cheap for these and a cut below.
Opus Forty Two is versatile and if she sits as opposed to getting too involved early she can make her presence felt here. She is second off the bench and should go forward.
Imonra comes off a pretty hard race in the Rampart. She likes Gulfstream and Zayas is riding good, but I think there are a few in here better than her.
Libban is another who looks like a pace player.
Nostalgic is classy and probably gets the best set up pace wise she has seen in a while if ever. The draw did her no favors at all and a mile and an eighth would serve her much better, but I think her best race can win this and at anything close to the 12-1 morning line I’ll land here. Hopefully all the speed and pace shows up and Junior can get her over and save some ground into that first turn.
Enjoy the races. Win the photos.
