Eskenformoney among 13 nominated to Royal Delta

StarLadies Racing’s Eskenformoney, the winner of the Rampart (G3) at Gulfstream Park in December, is among 13 older fillies and mares nominated to the $200,000 Royal Delta Stakes (G2) Feb. 18.

 

Eskenformoney, a daughter of 2010 Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Eskendereya, is one of two mares trained by Todd Pletcher nominated to the 1 1/8-mile dirt race. The other, Cheyenne Stables’ Genre, is coming off a runner-up finish in the Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28.

 

Alter’s Racing Stable’s Curlin’s Approval, the winner of the seven-furlong Hurricane Bertie, is also nominated to the 27th running of Royal Delta, which was previously run as the Sabin Stakes from 1991 through 2014.

 

The Marty Wolfson-trained Curlin’s Approval was beaten less than one length by Eskenformoney in the Rampart, which was her start prior to the Hurricane Bertie.

 

Trainer David Fawkes, who won this race in 2015 with Sheer Drama, has nominated Pinnacle Racing Stable and Norman Stables’ Moment of Delight. The 5-year-old Florida-bred most recently finished third in the Sunshine Millions Distaff at Gulfstream Park Jan. 21.

 

The Royal Delta is named for the Besilu Stables mare who won consecutive runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1), in 2011 and 2012. A three-time Eclipse Award winner, Royal Delta captured the 2013 Sabin by five lengths.

 

Who’s Hot: Jockey Emisael Jaramillo scored a riding double, connecting with Into the Future ($3) in the opener and Jack West ($6.60) in the eighth.