Regal Glory will close out career in Matriarch Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Regal Glory will aim to be the first horse in nearly three decades to win the Grade 1 Matriarch in consecutive years when she makes the final start of an outstanding career in the mile turf race for fillies and mares on Dec. 4 at Del Mar.

Trainer Chad Brown plans to start Regal Glory and Dolce Zel in the $400,000 Matriarch, a race he has won four of the past five years.

“We’re discussing it, and right now I plan to go,” Brown said Tuesday, referring to Regal Glory. “If we run, it certainly will be her last race. She’s going to be bred in early February.”

Peter Brant owns Regal Glory, a 6-year-old mare who has won 12 races and $2,379,134 from 22 starts, including three Grade 1s – the Matriarch, and this year’s Jenny Wiley at Keeneland and Just a Game at Belmont Park. In her most recent start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Regal Glory finished 10th.

“She had a wide trip in the Breeders’ Cup,” Brown said. “She came out of the race well. Then again, she’s at the tail end of a 6-year-old season, so she’s certainly no slam dunk in the” Matriarch.

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The last back-to-back Matriarch winner was Flawlessly, the Charlie Whittingham-trained Hall of Fame mare who won the race three straight years from 1991 to 1993.

Brown also plans to start 3-year-old Dolce Zel in the Matriarch, which will be her first try against older. Dolce Zel won the Grade 3 Lake George in July at Saratoga, finished third in the Grade 2 Lake Placid, and was scratched as the morning-line favorite for the Grade 3 Valley View Stakes on Oct. 28 at Keeneland.

“She was a vet scratch, so I took her back to New York and regrouped with her,” Brown said. “She looks fine. It’s a step up to go into the Grade 1 against older. That said, she prefers firm ground, and the mile trip is best for her.”

Since 2014 when the Matriarch moved to Del Mar, 3-year-olds have made minimal impact: 17 3-year-olds have produced one second and one third. The last 3-year-old to win the Matriarch was Better Lucky in 2012 at Hollywood Park. Brown’s four Matriarch winners are Regal Glory, Viadera (2020), Uni (2018), and Off Limits (2017).

As of early this week, Brown planned on sending one other runner for the Turf Festival at Del Mar – the 2-year-old filly Liguria for the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes on Dec. 3.

◗ Salimah, a lightly raced 3-year-old filly trained by Brown, will target the Grade 1 American Oaks on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, the trainer said. Salimah won the Winter Memories Stakes on Sunday at Aqueduct, her third win from four starts.

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