Dona Clota rallies four wide to win Robert G. Dick Memorial
Betting favorite Dona Clota settled near the back of a field of six, swung four wide into the lane and closed between rivals to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes by a neck Saturday at Delaware Park.
Irad Ortiz Jr. guided the Chilean-bred mare (8-5) to the front in the final furlong of the 1 3/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares three years old and upward, run over firm going for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Luis Sáez sent Storm Miami (5-1) to the lead on the inside and set the pace through fractions of 26.01 and 51.89 seconds with nobody pressing her. Ceniza Pampa (7-2), with José Ortiz up, stalked three to two wide in second. Bellezza (2-1) sat the pocket along the rail under Jaime Rodriguez, and Júnior Alvarado kept Alluring Angel (9-1) two wide a touch farther back. Dona Clota saved ground near the rear, and Tricky Kitty (43-1) trailed after breaking a step slowly.
Storm Miami carried her advantage through three-quarters in 1:17.53, a mile in 1:41.40 and 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.37. Ortiz eased Dona Clota off the rail at the quarter pole and tipped her four wide leaving the turn. Alluring Angel came five wide and rallied with her. Storm Miami drifted in slightly when straightened and bumped Bellezza in the hind end near the furlong marker, forcing that rival to check. Dona Clota and Alluring Angel ran down the pacesetter in the final sixteenth, and Dona Clota out-finished her rival to prevail under a drive in a final time of 2:16.77. Dona Clota paid $5.20, $3.00 and $2.40.
Storm Miami dug in to cross third at the wire, but the stewards posted an inquiry into the upper-stretch contact and disqualified her from third to fourth, elevating Bellezza to third. Alluring Angel held second and returned $7.60 and $4.20. Bellezza paid $2.80 to show. Ceniza Pampa weakened to fifth and Tricky Kitty completed the order after finding no rally.
A daughter of Ivan Denisovich out of the Total Impact mare Delfa, Dona Clota races for Resolute Racing and was bred in Chile by Haras Don Alberto.