Breeders' Cup workouts at Belmont: Royal Delta sizzles

It was only 38 degrees when Royal Delta walked onto the Belmont Park main track shortly before 7 a.m. Saturday. The two-time champion mare warmed things up in a hurry.

In her final workout before she attempts an unprecedented three-peat in Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita – and maybe the final work of her magnificent career – Royal Delta blazed four furlongs in 46.52 seconds.

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Under exercise rider Rodolphe Brisset, Royal Delta got her first quarter in 24.02 seconds before flying home, without urging, through a final quarter in 22.50. She galloped out five-eighths in 58.98.

[bc_video_id:308418:]The final time was the fastest of 37 works at the distance and was her third consecutive bullet work since being upset by Princess of Sylmar in the Grade 1 Beldame on Sept. 28.

“She’s just a talented horse,” said Bill Mott, the trainer of Royal Delta. “He let her switch leads, and she just kind of takes off.”

Mott has won five runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (called the Ladies’ Classic from 2008-12), including three with horses who finished second in the Beldame. Mott has won the last three runnings of the race.

Royal Delta was one of three Distaff horses to work Saturday at Belmont. Mott’s other starter, Close Hatches, worked a fast half-mile in 46.63 seconds, with a final quarter of 22.84. She did switch back to her left lead near the wire. Close Hatches galloped out five furlongs in 58.92 and six furlongs in 1:13.47.

“It was nearly an identical work to Royal Delta,” Mott said.

Mott was asked if he would be more excited about running Close Hatches, a two-time Grade 1-winning 3-year-old, if she didn’t have to face Royal Delta.

“I’d be excited about the way she’s training and the way she’s doing,” Mott said. “I’m pleased with the way both of them are doing. It’s like a proud parent that has half a dozen kids. You can’t choose one over the other. You got to do your best with all of them, and you love them all. That’s the case with these two fillies.”

Princess of Sylmar, a winner of four consecutive Grade 1 races, worked a half-mile in 48.44 seconds in company with Capo Bastone (Turf Sprint) over the training track. The pair got their final quarter in 24.36, with Capo Bastone perhaps a short head in front at the wire. Both horses galloped out well.

“More of what we’ve been seeing from her,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I thought she went really, really well.”[bc_video_id:308445:]

In other works:

◗ Emollient, a three-time Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly trained by Mott, worked five furlongs in 59.89 seconds over the outer turf course in preparation for the Filly and Mare Turf. She got her last three furlongs in 35.45.

“She was a little lost by herself, looking around, and really needed company,” Mott said. “I just didn’t have anybody to go with her on the day, but she’s doing very well.”[bc_video_id:308444:]

◗ Summer Applause, preparing for the Filly and Mare Sprint, worked four furlongs in 48.52 seconds in company with Bond Vigilante. She got her final quarter in 23.83 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.97.

Cutting her back to seven-eighths, we’re trying to sharpen her up a little bit,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Her last two works were good. She’s been acting sharp. It’s just a matter of how the race sets up for her. Definitely an experiment cutting back to seven-eighths, but it might be a chance worth taking.”

◗ Za Approval, preparing for the Mile on turf, worked an easy half-mile in 49.09 seconds over the main track.