Mott testing Grand Job at two turns in Royal Delta; Rainbow 6 has mandatory payout
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Patience has been a virtue for trainer Bill Mott when it comes to Grand Job, who since finally launching her U.S. career on Oct. 31 has scored a pair of one-sided victories. On Saturday, Mott’s wait to discover whether Grand Job can carry her abundant speed two turns will end when the promising runner stretches out to 1 1/16 miles and takes on 10 other fillies and mares in the Grade 3, $165,000 Royal Delta Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The Royal Delta is part of a mandatory-payout Rainbow 6 that begins in race 7. Track officials estimate the pool could reach $5 million if the bet goes unhit before Saturday’s card.
Grand Job, a daughter of Justify, began her career in Ireland, where she finished second in 3 of 4 starts while racing on turf or synthetic surfaces. She joined Mott’s barn at the end of 2023 but would not compete until a year later, returning with a flourish to win a maiden race by six lengths at Aqueduct and an entry-level allowance race by 9 1/4 lengths at Churchill Downs. Both of those outings came on dirt.
“She was being pointed for a race during Derby week in 2024 before suffering a setback,” Mott said. “Neither of her first two races surprised me. I was pleased she confirmed our confidence. But two turns, that’s something new and something we’ve got to find out.
“I think that sets the tone for the rest of the year. If she passes that test okay, then we can make some different plans.”
Grand Job, who has led at every call in her U.S. appearances, could find herself challenged for the early lead in the Royal Delta by Intrepid Daydream, who will be stretching out off a steady diet of sprint races. She is one of three fillies trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has entered in the race, along with Libban and Dazzling Move.
“Intrepid has lost her form recently, but she won around two turns once as a 2-year-old and I always wanted to try her again,” Joseph said “Ideally, she’s going to be forwardly placed or on the lead.”
Libban finished eighth after forcing a fast pace in the 2024 Royal Delta. She has won just once in eight subsequent starts, taking the Wasted Tears Stakes last summer at Lone Star Park going 1 1/16 miles on turf.
“She ran just mediocre last time on the turf,” Joseph admitted. “Realistically, we’re hoping she can rebound and get a graded stakes placing in this race.”
Dazzling Move was recently purchased by Miller Racing LLC and turned over to Joseph last month. She has looked very sharp in two works since changing barns.
“She’s already won once going a mile here, and it’s surprising she’s never been two turns,” Joseph said. “She’s been a bit keen in the morning, we’ve been trying to get her to relax, but both her works have been very good.”
Although primarily stabled at Gulfstream Park with trainer Jorge Delgado, Miss New York has never started locally. A two-time stakes winner who is proven at the distance, she should benefit from an honest pace while turning back from 1 1/8 miles off a second-place finish in the Carousel Stakes on Dec. 21 at Laurel Park.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will be represented by Autumn Evening, who has sandwiched a pair of allowance wins around a third-place finish in the six-furlong Garland of Roses at Aqueduct in her last three starts. She is another who will be trying two turns for the first time.
Riding Pretty also should come running late as she returns to the main track off a disappointing showing on Tapeta in her last start. She won a pair of statebred stakes last summer at Monmouth Park.
The field is completed by Dream Concert and American Retro, who finished third and fourth, respectively, in last month’s Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, and the Rusty Arnold pair of Foreseen and Neon Icon.
Saturday could be a big day for Mott. About an hour before Grand Job goes postward as the favorite in the Royal Delta, the Hall of Fame trainer will send out Knightsbridge as the prohibitive choice in a second-level allowance/high-priced optional-claiming race going a mile on the main track.
Knightsbridge launched his career in sensational fashion winning his debut by 10 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs in November 2023 before returning to dominate a first-level allowance/optional claimer by nine lengths going one mile as a 1-9 favorite here the following March. The son of Nyquist went to the sidelines shortly thereafter due to bone bruising and has started just once since, finishing third in the Grade 3 Perryville last fall at Keeneland.
Knightsbridge, a half brother to Grade 1 winner Speaker’s Corner, has had six published works prepping for his return, including a pair of bullets within a 13-day span last month at Payson Park.
– additional reporting by David Grening
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