SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sometimes things have to go wrong before they can go right. Such was the case with the 3-year-old filly Royal Delta, who came with a powerful rally under Jose Lezcano to win yesterday’s 131st running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama Stakes by 5½ lengths.
Royal Delta’s march toward victory in the Alabama, which catapulted her into the fray for the 3-year-old filly championship, began when her Hall-of-Fame trainer, Bill Mott, decided to forego a start in the Kentucky Oaks last May, and instead ran her in the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico, which she won by 2½ lengths.
“[The Alabama] became our primary goal when we decided to pass the Kentucky Oaks because she was too inexperienced,” Mott said in the winner’s circle, watching the replay on the infield board. “We went to the Black-Eyed Susan to give her an easier race.”
Royal Delta’s next scheduled race was the Mother Goose at Belmont, but she missed that when she bruised her foot.
“Maybe it was a blessing in disguise,” said Mott.
Again, Royal Delta took an off-step when she prepped for the Alabama in the July 23 Coaching Club American Oaks here, finishing a well-beaten third behind It’s Tricky and Plum Pretty.
“She didn’t settle well, she didn’t rate well,” Mott said. “She was a little strong with the rider early on, and I think it compromised her finish.
“But the Coaching Club was all she needed, in a lot of ways, not just conditioning, but mentally. It was just a matter of her relaxing and conserving energy for the final run, which she didn’t do last time.”
But she certainly did in the Alabama. While Plum Pretty carved out the pace, tracked by It’s Tricky, Royal Delta settled into third along the rail. Lezcano sat chilly as Plum Pretty and It’s Tricky dueled around the far turn, then he swung out and turned her loose at the top of the stretch.
“It was a picture-perfect ride,” Mott said. “He let those two entertain themselves on the turn, then came by and did the clean-up. She went past them like she was shot out of a slingshot.”
Mott paid tribute to Royal Delta’s owner-breeder Prince Saud bin Khaled, who passed away in February.
“He always loved a good one,” Mott said. “He was a special friend of mine. He’s not here today, but I’m sure he’s watching.”
The big mystery in the race was the Canadian filly Inglorious. Coming off a win over colts in the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine, she opened as the 4-5 favorite, went off at 2-1 and never picked up her feet, trailing all the way around.
ed.fountaine@nypostcom
