Rosinka from right connections

For the record, trainer Graham Motion doesn't win the Robert G. Dick Memorial Handicap at Delaware Park every year. It just seems like he does.

In 11 previous runnings of the 1o3/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares, Motion has saddled the winner five times, including three straight with New Economy in 2002 and Alternate in 2003 and 2004.

Motion has an excellent shot to win the Dick again on Saturday when he sends out last year's winner, Rosinka.

The Dick (race 6), upgraded to Grade 3 status this year, and the $100,000 R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial Handicap (race 7) are the supporting stakes on a 10-race card topped by the Grade 2, $500,000 Delaware Oaks.

Rosinka, who began her career in England, is 6 for 9 since she first raced for Motion in October 2006. In addition to her neck victory in last year's Dick, Rosinka won the Grade 3 Glens Falls Handicap at Saratoga and lost by three-quarters of a length after setting the pace in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park.

Motion is already making plans to try and get a Grade 1 win for Rosinka later this summer.

"I hate to get ahead of myself, but obviously if everything goes well you have certain races to target," Motion said. "I would love to think that if she ran well, I could run her back in the Beverly D. at Arlington."

The Grade 1 Beverly D., at 1 3/16 miles on turf, will be contested on Aug. 9.

Rosinka, 3 for 3 over Delaware's grass course, led wire to wire to win the local prep for the the Dick, the John Rooney Memorial, on June 7 in her only start this season.

Rosinka's stiffest challenge figures to come from Herboriste and Royalties.

Herboriste, trained by Michael Matz, is versatile enough to excel on turf ranging from firm to yielding. She missed by a neck in the Grade 3 The Very One Handicap over yielding ground at Gulfstream Park in March and most recently finished second on firm ground in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Handicap at Belmont, a race contested at the same distance as the Dick.

Royalties, 4 for 9 on grass, has yet to win a stakes but gained more than two lengths in the stretch against Rosinka to finish second in the Rooney.

Carpenter: Fast pair in peak form

Kaufy Big Shot and Won Awesome Dude, both coming off career-best Beyer Speed Figures, head a field of six older horses going 1 1/16 miles in the R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial.

Kaufy Big Shot, based in Maryland with trainer Gary Capuano, went wire to wire to win a high-priced optional claimer at Pimlico five weeks ago, earning a career-high 103 Beyer. He romped by 4 1/2 lengths in his last appearance at Delaware in late April.

Won Awesome Dude, who spent last winter at Fair Grounds and trained during the spring at Lone Star Park, ran the fastest race of his nine-race career when he finished second with a 100 Beyer in a third-level optional $50,000 claimer on June 3. His effort was impressive because he came from off the pace on a day when speed dominated.