Gentle Ruler wins fourth straight in Robert G. Dick Memorial

Gentle Ruler snuck up on the competition when she won the Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs in her last start at 7-1. She garnered more wagering respect in the Grade 3, $200,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial on Saturday at Delaware Park, but she may still be better than people think.

Under a sweet ground-saving ride by jockey Chris Landeros, Gentle Ruler slipped through along the inner rail entering the stretch, grabbed the lead, and then was not seriously threatened while winning the 1 3/8-mile turf marathon for fillies and mares by 2 3/4 lengths.

The Dick Memorial was Gentle Ruler’s fourth win in a row. It took her 12 starts before she won a maiden race at Gulfstream Park in March. She has since won a Keeneland allowance, the Keertana, and the Dick Memorial for trainer Ian Wilkes.

Wilkes said Gentle Ruler will likely run next at Saratoga.

“She has come a long way, it took her a little while for her trainer to get her to break her maiden, but since we got that figured out, she has been brilliant,” Wilkes said. “Seriously, the difference between this year and last is that she had always been kind of a quirky filly. She always had to do everything with a pony. This year, she has matured and she is a much better filly because of it.

"The thing that I noticed today that I really liked was the first time they went by, you could see her listening to Chris. She had her ears going back and forth and you could tell she was listening to him.”

Gentle Ruler paid $9.40 to win in the nine-horse lineup and was timed in 2:13.70 over firm ground.

Steelin Magnolias, a 70-1 longshot set the early pace on an open lead that at times reached five lengths. On the final turn, she was challenged by Coachwhip and a three-wide Theodora B. while Landeros awaited an opening on Gentle Ruler.

When Steelin Magnolias left the rail open nearing the stretch, Gentle Ruler shot through the opening and blew the race open.

Theodora B. finished second, a neck ahead of even-money Gaining, who finished third. Layla Noor was another neck back in fourth.