Delaware: Bryan's Jewel turns tables on Onepointhreekarats in John Rooney Memorial

The gray mare Bryan’s Jewel clearly didn’t mind that Saturday’s $79,500 John Rooney Memorial Stakes was moved from turf to the main track at Delaware Park. Although she won a turf stakes at Delaware last season, five of the seven lifetime victories Bryan’s Jewel has recorded have come on dirt.

When the Rooney was taken off the turf due to heavy rain on Friday, nine of the 13 fillies and mares entered in the 1 1/16-mile race scratched. Onepointhreekarats, who had beaten Bryan’s Jewel by two lengths when they met in the Winter Melody on May 22, was made the 3-5 favorite and tried to steal the race on the front end under Jeremy Rose. Onepointhreekarats led by two lengths after six furlongs in 1:12.78. But Bryan’s Jewel ($4.40), the 6-5 second choice under Alex Cintron, mounted a challenge at the three-eighths pole, forged to the front with a furlong remaining, and drew clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths while completing the distance on a fast track in 1:44.06.

Onepointhreekarats easily finished second, 9 3/4 lengths in front of Carrietta, followed byTanivan.

Mac Robertson, who trains Bryan’s Jewel for Barry and Joni Butzow, must decide whether he wants to bring back his mare in the Grade 3 Robert Dick Memorial at 1 3/8 miles on turf or take on elite dirt fillies and mares in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap.

“In her last start we did not have the best of trips,” Cintron said. “Today we got a perfect trip and at the quarter pole I felt real confident. She is a real nice mare. She runs equally well on the dirt and grass."