Reuters: Sports News: Royal Delta retains Ladies' title in style

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Royal Delta retains Ladies' title in style Nov 3rd 2012, 01:12 1 of 2. Mike Smith celebrates atop Royal Delta as he becomes the all-time winningest Breeders' Cup jockey after his victory in the running of the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic thoroughbred horse race at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, November 2, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Danny Moloshok By Mark Lamport-Stokes ARCADIA, California | Fri Nov 2, 2012 9:12pm EDT ARCADIA, California (Reuters) - Hot favorite Royal Delta lived up to her billing as the top female horse in the United States by retaining her title in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at Santa Anita Park on Friday. With Mike Smith on board, the Kentucky-bred filly took control of the race by the first turn and easily fended off late bursts by My Miss Aurelia and Include Me Out down the stretch. The previously unbeaten My Miss Aurelia finished one-and-a-half lengths back with Include Me Out in third, a further one-and-a-quarter lengths adrift. Royal Delta won the Ladies' Classic 12 months ago with an explosive finish under the lights at Churchill Downs in Kentucky and successfully defended her title in California as a four-year-old. Her command performance on the dirt of Santa Anita also gave jockey Smith a record 16th career win at the Breeders' Cup, moving him one ahead of fellow Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey. "This is one of the greatest days of my life," a beaming Smith told reporters as he sat next to Royal Delta's trainer Bill Mott, another Hall of Famer. "I felt so confident at the first turn and I felt confident the rest of the way. She is a true champion. She trains the way that she ran. Just amazing." Smith was typically humble when asked what a 16th Breeders' Cup win meant to him. "I've become the all-time winner ... it's incredible to be with the riders on this list," he smiled. "It's truly an honor. I hope to be around a few more years to add to it." SPECTACULAR RUN Mott, who earned his fifth career victory in the Ladies' Classic with Royal Delta's repeat win, also paid tribute to the four-year-old. "Spectacular, she broke sharply, was out on the lead and just ran the race that way," said the trainer, who had considered entering her for the marquee Breeders' Classic on Saturday. "She's a talented mare to be able to run well and win no matter how the race develops. I was a little concerned when they were throwing up those fractions but she kept going and ran them off their feet." Royal Delta, a daughter of 2003 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, gave her connections a brief scare earlier this week when she suffered a slight injury before being transported to California from Newburgh, 60 miles north of New York City. As she was being backed into her stall on the plane, she was cut on her right rear but, according to Mott, she has since fully recovered. "Everything is good," Mott said. "She's feeling very good. The wound looks good. It's a non-issue." The Ladies' Classic was the signature event out of six on the opening day of the two-day Breeders' Cup extravaganza. (Editing by Gene Cherry and Greg Stutchbury) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

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