Down Royal Overrules Chief Justice in A.P. Smithwick

Shadowfax Stable's New York-bred Down Royal , the lone mare in a field of seven, came home the best over six rivals in the $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Stakes (NSA-G1) July 20 at Saratoga Race Course. 

Expertly piloted to victory by Bernard Dalton, husband of trainer Kate Dalton, the 8-year-old gray daughter of Alphabet Soup  scored the first graded victory of her career after closing from off the pace in the 2 1/16-mile affair over the hurdles. Down Royal extended her win streak to four in a row, dating back to her first stakes score in the Randolph D. Rouse Stakes last August at Colonial Downs. 

Sixth early, Down Royal rallied to catch Chief Justice  by a neck after the latter had opened up a 2 1/2-length midstretch lead after pressing the pace. Late-running French Light  rallied for third.

Historic Heart , Redicean , and Iranistan  were next across the line. Pacesetter Pistol Whipped  was eased after 1 1/2 miles, vanned off, and reported to have bled, according to the Equibase chart.

Kate Dalton said it was not until late in the race that she was confident Down Royal would pull off the victory. 

"About a stride before the wire," said Dalton, with a laugh. 

The win was the second top-level stakes victory at Saratoga for Dalton, who sent out Diplomat  to upset the 2017 New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap (NSA-G1), also with her husband in the irons.

"I didn't think I was coming here to pull a Diplomat, but apparently I was," the conditioner said. 

Bernard Dalton said it was emotional to win a grade 1 aboard Down Royal, who he has piloted in 18 of 19 starts over hurdles. He and his wife bred her out of the High Yield  mare Miss Crown .

"This filly got me my 100th winner as a jockey at Nashville over jumps in America, and you can't write that script," Dalton said. "To come here and win a grade 1 on a filly that you (bred) and have ridden probably 99.9% of the time in our eight years, you can't describe the feeling it gives you to accomplish this."

Barry Foley, who rode Chief Justice, was full of praise for the runner-up's effort and for Down Royal's determined victory. 

"It was a big run for him," said Foley. "He was just very unlucky to get run down by a good filly, to be fair. It was a massive run out of her, and I'm delighted for Bernie and Kate Dalton. They're hard triers, and they deserve that. I think they're going to get a nice check for this because the winner is New York-bred, and she gets the bonus."

Down Royal, who was bred by Bernard and Kate Dalton, returned $15.60 for a $2 win wager. She earned $90,000 for her victory and now boasts an overall record of 6-6-2 in 23 starts with total purse earnings of $277,474.