Delta Prince Rallies for Grade 1 Win in Maker's 46 Mile
Image:
Description:
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Delta Prince closes with a rush to take the Maker's 46 Mile Stakes at Keeneland
While it proved a circuitous trip just to get Delta Prince into the gate, his connections celebrated the outcome as he rallied from last to win the $300,000 Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (G1T) by 1 1/2 lengths April 12 at Keeneland.
While the worst-to-first rally had trainer Jimmy Jerkens a bit nervous during the race, that journey proved a piece of cake after a racing postponement at Santa Anita Park saw the 6-year-old son of Street Cry travel back and forth across the country without a race.
Jerkens had pointed the Stronach Stables homebred to the March 9 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) on the Santa Anita turf, but equine safety issues at the Arcadia, Calif., track forced that race to be postponed to March 30. The connections were forced to plot a new course toward a first top-level score for their improving runner.
"That was pretty hectic and hard to swallow to go all the way out there and have to come all the way back," Jerkens told Keeneland media. "But at least he handled the shipping very well—we were lucky with that—because sometimes he doesn't. This year he's grown up and matured into a really nice horse."
That maturity was on full display Friday as Delta Prince overcame any travel weariness and a layoff dating to his third-place finish in the Jan. 26 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Gulfstream Park. That 2019 debut marked the second time Delta Prince placed in a grade 1 stakes—including a neck loss to Voodoo Song in last year's Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga Race Course—but he would not be denied Friday.
After racing last of seven through the far turn, Delta Prince unleashed a stretch run under meet-leading rider Javier Castellano to surge past the six rivals, drawing clear of longshot runner-up Clyde's Image.
Delta Prince completed the one-mile test in 1:35.97 on good turf, giving Castellano an unmatched fourth victory in the race and his fifth stakes win at the young spring meet. He leads the spring meet in wins and earnings.
"I tried to take my time with the horse and let the race develop—horses were going quickly," Castellano told Keeneland media. "Then I liked the way he finished. He finished really, really well."
Jerkens said the early placing at the rear and fractions slower than he expected caused concern while watching the race.
"When he swung him out, it looked like he was starting to kick in, but I was really nervous down the backstretch, that's for sure," Jerkens said. "It looked like they were really rolling on the front end, but the time wasn't really there. … I expected to see faster times than that. But it looked like he was making headway, and I thought the stretch was pretty long, so when he swung him out, I thought he had a chance, and he did."
Actor Bill Murray, on right, with his family including Luke Murray, left, daughter in law Kara Murray (blue hat), and grandson Luke Murray (being held by Bill Murray), enjoyed the races Friday at Keeneland
It was the grade 1 debut for Sullimar Stable's Clyde's Image. The lightly raced 5-year-old son of Get Stormy is still looking for his first stakes win—he placed second in both of his previous stakes races—but against top competition Friday, he briefly led in the stretch before yielding to the winner.
"To me, it feels like he's doing better right now," said jockey Albin Jimenez of the Thomas Bush trainee. "He gave me everything he's got. He lugged a bit, but it didn't matter. (Delta Prince) is a super horse. We were second-best."
Multiple grade 1 winner Heart to Heart, who won last year's Maker's 46 Mile, led through six furlongs in 1:11.98 but faded to last as his struggles on less-than-firm courses continued.
"We'll go back and evaluate him," said trainer Brian Lynch. "We know he went too quick on the soft turf course, which has never been his thing. Can't do much about it."
Favored Delta Prince returned $5.40, $3.20, and $2.60, and Clyde's Image returned $20.60 to place and $6 to show. Shadwell Stable's Qurbaan, who now has wins or placings in all five of his North American starts—all graded stakes—finished third and paid $3.20 to show.
Bred in Kentucky, Delta Prince is a half brother to three-time champion Royal Delta (Empire Maker ) and grade 1-winning filly Crown Queen (Smart Strike). They are out of the A.P. Indy mare Delta Princess, a multiple graded stakes winner who has produced seven winners from as many starters.