Royal Delta rules in Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Post-time favorite Royal Delta took the lead at the head of the stretch and cruised to victory in Friday's $250,000 Black- Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. The 1 1/8-mile race for three-year- old fillies is the sister race to Saturday's 137th Preakness Stakes.

Taking the lead out of the gate was Comely Stakes winner Hot Summer. She was followed by co-favorite Wyomia, Buster's Ready, Love Theway Youare and Royal Delta. Royal Delta and Wyomia both went off at 9-5, with Royal Delta having $1,409 more in win bets.

Hot Summer, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, set the pace up the backstretch closely followed by Wyomia, Buster's Ready and Royal Delta. Love Theway Youare was trailing by about a dozen lengths.

Around the turn for home, Royal Delta and jockey Jose Lezcano moved into second behind Hot Summer and took the lead coming out of the final turn. At the top of the stretch, Royal Delta, trained by Bill Mott, had the lead with Hot Summer second and Buster's Ready, ridden by John Velazquez, gaining from third.

Royal Delta had the lead with a furlong to run as Buster's Ready took over second and tried to collar the leader. Lezcano, who won last year's race with Acting Happy, roused his mount down the stretch and the pair went on to record a 2 1/2-length win over Buster's Ready.

Finishing third in the five horse field was Hot Summer followed by Love Theway Youare and Wyomia. Coax Liberty was scratched.

The time for the 87th Black-Eyed Susan Stakes was 1:49.60 on a fast track.

"It's been good. She looked like she cruised to them," said Mott who won the stakes for the first time. "Looked like she may have idled the last eighth of a mile. We'll probably go for the Mother Goose (Belmont Park), if all is well."

In just her fourth career start, Royal Delta came away with $150,000, her biggest prize so far. Owned by Palides Investments N.V., Inc., the filly has won three of her four starts for $219,600.

After breaking her maiden last October, the filly finished ninth to Wyomia in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March, but came back to win an allowance race in April at Keeneland.

Royal Delta returned $5.60, $3.80 and $2.60. Buster's Ready paid $5.20 and $2.60, and Hot Summer paid $2.80 to show.

The weather forecast continues to be excellent for the Preakness Stakes. Mostly sunny with a post-time temperature near 85.