Sopran Basilea continues Motion's success in Robert G. Dick Memorial
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Ridden craftily on Saturday afternoon by Jorge Ruiz, Sopran Basilea gave trainer Graham Motion his ninth victory in the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial for fillies and mares traveling 1 3/8 miles at Delaware Park.
Sopran Basilea settled in last over the very soft turf course as Ever Summer, the longest shot on the board, set fractions of 25.91 seconds, 52.21, and 1:18.12 while lightly prompted from the outside by Viareggio.
Viareggio, stretching out to 1 3/8 miles for the first time after finishing fourth in Santa Anita’s Grade 1 Gamely at nine furlongs on May 29, ratcheted up the pressure on the final bend, but she failed to stay.
Ever Summer still had the lead at the furlong marker, and she gamely braced for all challenges. Sopran Basilea, last and saving ground entering the second of three turns, remained glued to the fence heading for home.
Sopran Basilea briefly steadied at the three-sixteenths marker, then burst through to collar a game Ever Summer by a neck in 2:20.27. Parnac finished another half-length back in third. Completing the order of finish were Talbeyah, Lady Rockstar, Viareggio, and favored Frivole.
Lovely Princess, Miss Yearwood, Inanna’s Quest, and Deciding Vote scratched.
Ever since Irish-bred Sopran Basilea was imported from Italy, trainer Graham Motion wanted to run her in longer-distance turf events.
Stymied by Mother Nature washing potential turf starts to the main track as well as the cancellation of some racing dates at Laurel Park, Motion instead chose Pimlico’s Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes for her North American debut.
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“We toyed with the idea of going to Kentucky with her because we think she needs further,” Motion told Daily Racing Form before the Gallorette.
Sopran Basilea rallied for second in the Gallorette, a sign that she retained the good form she showed when multiple group-placed last year.
“She ran super at Pimlico,” Motion said in a post-race interview broadcast by Delaware Park. “We knew she needed more distance, and Jorge gave her a great ride.”
A 5-year-old mare by Night of Thunder, Sopran Basilea was bred by Aidan Sexton. She raced 14 times in Italy, with her career highlight a victory in the Group 2 Premio Lydia Tesio over good-to-soft ground on Nov. 7, 2021.
Purchased at public auction overseas for the equivalent of $315,000 in December, Sopran Basilea now races for Madaket Stables and Bill Strauss. She has won six times from 17 starts, with lifetime earnings of $512,145.
Sopran Basilea joins Guilty Twelve, Real Smart, Caprice, Rosinka, Alternate (twice), New Economy, and Bursting Forth as Motion-trained winners of the Robert G. Dick Memorial.
Alapocas Run
Lightening Larry earned his third stakes win of 2023 when he prompted and pounced his way to a 1 1/2-length victory over Sir Wellington in the $100,000 Alapocas Run Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.
Trained by Jorge Delgado for Lea Farms, Lightening Larry pushed Sir Wellington from the two path through fractions of 22.89 and 45.99, confronted that one in earnest turning into the stretch, then grinded clear late to complete the distance in 1:10.13 over the fast main track.
It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Chief Ron in third. Then came Beren, No Sabe Nada, and Drafted. Stage Left, Run Classic, and Twisted Ride scratched. Lightening Larry returned $3.20 to win as the favorite.
“He is a really nice horse,” winning rider Paco Lopez told track publicity. “He broke really well today, and we got into good position. When I asked him at the eighth pole, he responded and finished strong.”
A 4-year-old colt by Uncaptured, Lightening Larry was twice stakes-placed as a 2-year-old for trainer Jeff Engler. He earned his first stakes victory on New Year's Day 2022 in the Limehouse at Gulfstream.
Transferred to Delgado, a native of Venezuela who has been training since 2017, Lightening Larry became the trainer's first graded stakes winner when he upset Pimlico's Chick Lang in 2022.
Lightening Larry hasn't been off the board from five starts this year. He kicked off his season with a front-running victory in the Sunshine Sprint for Florida-breds on Jan. 14 at Gulfstream. The versatile colt rated successfully when taking the Mr. Prospector on May 29 at Monmouth, his final start prior to the Alapocas Run.
Bred by Michelle Redding, Lightening Larry has won 7 of 17 starts for lifetime earnings of $517,080.
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