Victory Tastes Sweet for Cookie Dough in Royal Delta

Arindel's homebred Cookie Dough, who gamely finished second or third in five of her six previous graded stakes, got the elusive grade Feb. 15 at Gulfstream Park when she won the $150,000 Royal Delta Stakes (G3) by three-quarters of a length over Golden Award.

Saddled by Saffie Joseph Jr. for the first time and ridden by Paco Lopez, the 4-year-old daughter of Brethren  out of Brooke's Valentine covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.57 on a sloppy (sealed) track.

Cookie Dough, who won the My Dear Girl Division of the Florida Sire Stakes in 2018, finished a game second last year in the Rampart Stakes (G3), Victory Ride Stakes (G3), and Davona Dale Stakes (G2) and third in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).

"I'm very proud of her," Joseph said. "She came from (trainer) Stan Gold. Her form spoke for itself. We just hoped we could get her to run as good as Stan because Stan did a great job."

Cookie Dough, who has always been forwardly placed and usually on the lead, broke from post 6 and was taken back to second off a :23.36, :46.68 pace set by Tweeting. But approaching the final turn, Lopez moved Cookie Dough to the front. An objection by jockey Tyler Gaffalione on Golden Award for interference entering the stretch was denied. Golden Award finished second, Queen Nekia was third, and 2018 Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Coach Rocks was fifth. Restless Rider, who was second in the 2019 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1), was sixth.

When asked whether the plan was to rate Cookie Dough, Joseph said, "That was Paco. He came into the paddock and said he wanted to sit second. I said, 'Paco, don't premeditate it. Play the break.' That was a good place to sit. She got a little tough. She's tough in the morning."

Cookie Dough, who has placed first, second, or third in 10 of 13 starts, returned $5.20 on a $2 win wager. She has a 3-3-4 record and earnings of $621,220. 

Video: Royal Delta S. (G3)