Royal Delta rallied strongly in the stretch and drew away to with the Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama Stakes by 5-1/2 lengths Saturday at Saratoga.
Jose Lezcano rode Royal Delta, who took the lead with less than a furlong to run in the race for 3-year-old fillies and was quickly in control in what was the first stakes victory of her career. She ran 1-1/4 miles in 2 minutes, 3.12 seconds and earned $300,000 for her owner, Palides Investments.
"I let her break and run the first quarter. And after that, I took a little hold and she got very relaxed," Lezcano said. "I asked her at the quarter pole, took her out, and she gave me a big kick. She really took off."
The Bill Mott-trained Royal Delta, who has won four of six career races, returned $13 on a win bet.
"I think she's a filly that seems to do anything," Mott said. "She will run over any surface. She has won on the synthetics, won a Grade 1 on the dirt, and has worked well over the grass. Our options are always open, but there is nothing like a good old-fashioned dirt race like the Alabama."
Runner-up It's Tricky, winner of the Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks, was denied a sweep of the New York Racing Association's Triple Tiara series. Pinch Pie finished third of six.
