Delaware: Ebony Rose dangerous on turf

Ebony Rose appears to be the filly to beat if the 1 1/16-mile Denise Rhudy remains on the grass at Delaware.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Ebony Rose won the Hilltop Breeders' Cup over a yielding course at Pimlico two starts ago, but came up empty when she had to carry an additional seven pounds in the Late Bloomer at Belmont last time out. She is assigned 122 pounds for Saturday, one less than she carried in the Late Bloomer but six pounds more than she carried in the Hilltop.

Pletcher is always dangerous at Delaware, where his horses are 9 for 29 (31 percent) this season.

Also proven over less-than-firm turf are Royal Descent, who beat statebreds in the Pearl Necklace over a yielding course at Pimlico in early June, and Christmas Stocking, who won the Cherokee Frolic over a course labeled good at Calder last winter. Christmas Stocking finished 7 1/4 lengths behind Royal Descent after setting the pace in the Pearl Necklace.

The filly to beat if the race is moved to the main track could be Lady of Clare, who has been first or second in 4 of 7 starts over fast tracks.