Dunbar Road Much the Best in Delaware Handicap
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Dunbar Road wins the Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park
Peter Brant's Dunbar Road swept to a geared-down victory under Irad Ortiz Jr. in the $400,000 Delaware Handicap (G2) July 11 at Delaware Park. It was the second victory of the Chad Brown trainee's 4-year-old season after opening the year with a rallying victory in the May 23 Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs.
The Quality Road filly was closer to the pace Saturday. She broke from the rail in the field of six fillies and mares and saved ground in third on the inside. Bellera showed the way through opening fractions of :23.84 and :48.32 for the first half-mile. Lucky Move was second on the outside and grabbed the lead to run six furlongs in 1:11.68.
When the field began to turn for home, Ortiz tipped out Dunbar Road into the three path near the three-eighths pole. Saracosa, who came from fifth, ranged up on her outside and tried to put in a bid, but Dunbar Road easily shook off the rival and opened up down the stretch. Once clear, Ortiz geared down Dunbar Road, who still crossed the finish line three lengths in front. The bay completed 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.02 and paid $2.40 for a $2 win ticket.
"I got a perfect trip," Ortiz said. "She broke really good. I was right behind the early speed right where I wanted to be. I wanted to save some ground, and then I got her out. By the three-eighths pole, I started working my way out, and I had no trouble, so I just got her clear and she responded. She responded very well.
"This is a really nice filly. You are going to hear a lot from her—trust me."
Saracosa, Bellera, Over Thinking, Wicked Awesome, and Lucky Move completed the order of finish.
Dunbar Road was a $350,000 purchase by Brant's White Birch Farm from the Indian Creek consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She was bred in Kentucky by Jeffery Drown out of the Bernardini mare Gift List. Her second dam, Private Gift, is a half sister to Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Status. Dunbar Road's 6-1-1 record in nine starts includes a victory in the 2019 Alabama Stakes (G1). She has earned $998,040.
Dunbar Road and Irad Ortiz Jr. exit the paddock en route to victory in the Delaware Handicap
Gentle Ruler Repeats in Robert G. Dick Memorial
Despite being taken off the turf Saturday, Morsches Stable's Gentle Ruler defended her title in the $125,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes and drew off to a four-length win on the main track under Chris Landeros.
The race was originally scheduled as a grade 3 turf event at 1 3/8 miles but was moved onto the main track and run at 1 1/4 miles. It automatically was downgraded a level, as is the policy of the American Graded Stakes Committee. The AGSC will review the running of the race and may reinstate its grade 3 status.
Gentle Ruler wins a main-track edition of the Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes
Gentle Ruler was fourth early in the field scratched down to five but had moved up to third a half-mile in as Tass set opening fractions of :25.75, :49.78, and 1:13.87 through six furlongs. Tightly Twisted pressed Tass and took over to run a mile in 1:39.48. She was only a head in front of Gentle Ruler, who made a bid from the rail, and relinquished her lead into the stretch.
Gentle Ruler pulled away to complete 10 furlongs on a fast track in 2:06.51. She was followed home by Tightly Twisted, Saffron Spirit, Shifra Magician, and Tass. The 5-year-old Colonel John mare paid $2.40.
"I really did not know what to expect because of the dirt," Landeros said. "She was drawing along nicely, and I just tried to stay out of her way. There was a big gap on the inside at the three-eighths, and I just glided her right through. She was just so game. I just had to hang on and point her in the right direction.
"But I am really proud of her today because the dirt is not her surface, but sometimes we have to go to Plan B. And she handled everything beautifully. She is just a lot of class and a lot of fun. I am just happy to be a part of her team."
Trained by Ian Wilkes, Gentle Ruler wrapped up 2019 with wins in the Ramsey Farm Stakes and Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes (G3T). She won a June 6 allowance at Churchill Downs heading into the Robert G. Dick Memorial and opened the season with a runner-up performance in the Orchid Stakes Presented by Rood and Riddle (G3T).
Bred in Kentucky by Franz Morsches' Builder's Mart, Gentle Ruler is the seventh winner out of the Cozzene mare Winikins, who foaled a Speightster filly May 10 and has a yearling colt by Lea . Gentle Ruler, a dark bay, was an $18,000 RNA when consigned by Claiborne Farm at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She has gone on to earn $862,269 from an 8-4-5 record in 21 starts.
Video: Delaware H. (G2)