Restless Rider starts back in Royal Delta Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH , Fla. – Restless Rider will make her first start since a disappointing run in the Kentucky Oaks when she is part of a competitive field Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Royal Delta at Gulfstream. Entries for the 1 1/16-mile race will be drawn Wednesday.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said he would like to run Restless Rider in the Apple Blossom on April 18 at Oaklawn, “with maybe a race in between”

“This should be a good first race to start with,” he said.

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Restless Rider had been first or second in all seven of her starts, including a win in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at 2, before finishing a head-scratching 13th as the 4-1 second choice in the Kentucky Oaks last May. She was actually entered in an October race at Keeneland, but her comeback was further delayed when she grabbed a quarter in training. Among her expected rivals in the Royal Delta are Cookie Dough, Golden Award, Queen Nekia, and at least one of the Todd Pletcher trio of Another Broad, Coach Rocks, and Nonna Madeline.

Meanwhile, McPeek said Back in Charge could run back in the Grade 2 Davona Dale on the Feb. 29 Fountain of Youth undercard after winning her career debut here Sunday at 18-1. The 3-year-old Will Take Charge filly earned a 66 Beyer Speed Figure and finished a mile in 1:38.69.

“I’d expect we only had her at about 80 percent, so it was great to see her run like that,” he said.