A field of 11 fillies and mares take their shot at the Royal Delta Stakes (G3) Feb. 15 at Gulfstream Park.
Among those going into the starting gate Saturday will be a trio of Saffie Joseph Jr. trainees. Leading the charge for Joseph is the graded stakes-placed Intrepid Daydream. The Maryland-bred daughter of Jess's Dream hit the board in three of her last four starts but hasn't seen the winner's circle since the 2023 Politely Stakes. However, she did win her only start at the 1 1/16-mile distance.
"She ran a couple times for us and then we had to give her time off. She hasn't come back in best form yet, but I think she's training back in the right direction. Hopefully this is what she wants to do," Joseph said. "Last race she needed it, but we used that last race to help move her forward. She's been two turns once and she won it impressively. If she can come back to her best, she has a chance."
The Royal Delta will make it five straight graded stakes for 5-year-old mare Libban, who is still looking for the results to match her talent. She was very active last year, starting nine times including the previous edition of the Royal Delta. However, she hasn't been able to finish better than fifth in graded company.
"She ran disappointing last time on the grass. She's back on the dirt. She won on the dirt already, she trains well on the dirt and we wanted to give her a try because if she can get graded stakes placing, it would help her," Joseph said. "The owners own the mare also. She's already a stakes winner, it can only enhance her résumé."
Joseph's trio is rounded out by the Ontario-bred Dazzling Move, who is making her graded debut.
The real threat may be the Bill Mott-trained Grand Job, who since coming over from the United Kingdom last year is undefeated in two dirt starts, both gate-to-wire wins that exhibited her speed. The daughter of Justify had three seconds from four starts—all on turf—before crossing the Atlantic.
Autumn Evening, who won her 2025 debut, rallied down the stretch in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Malibu Moon filly has hit the board in all seven of her starts after her debut.
"I thought she had a decent win here in the allowance race. We wanted to give her an opportunity to go two turns and see how she handles it," Pletcher said. "I liked the way she (breezed Feb. 8). She finished strongly in her workout and galloped out really well, so it gives me optimism that she'll handle a little more distance. She fits in here and she's doing well, so we figured now's the time to give it a try."
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, February 15, 2025, Race 11Entries: Royal Delta S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1American Retro (KY) Jorge Ruiz 118 Ian R. Wilkes 8/1 2 2Dream Concert (FL) Javier Castellano 120 Kathleen O'Connell 12/1 3 3Foreseen (KY) Luca Panici 118 George R. Arnold II 30/1 4 4Libban (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 10/1 5 5Intrepid Daydream (MD) Edwin Gonzalez 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 15/1 6 6Riding Pretty (NJ) Edgar Perez 120 Eddie Owens, Jr 20/1 7 7Dazzling Move (ON) Dylan Davis 118 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 9/2 8 8Grand Job (KY) Junior Alvarado 118 William I. Mott 9/5 9 9Miss New York (KY) David Egan 120 Jorge Delgado 10/1 10 10Autumn Evening (KY) John R. Velazquez 120 Todd A. Pletcher 8/1 11 11Neon Icon (KY) Joel Rosario 118 George R. Arnold II 6/1
