Family ties: Close relative to Royal Delta progressing well for Mott

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott continues to prepare royally-bred juvenile Queens Empire for his anticipated debut.

The bay son of Empire Maker is out of Grade 1 turf winner Crown Queen, who is a half-sister to three-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta, both of which are out of the prolific broodmare Delta Princess who also produced Grade 1 turf winner Delta Prince and first crop sire Khozan.

Owned by Besilu Stable, who also owned Royal Delta and Crown Queen, Queens Empire has trained with Mott's string at Saratoga in October before shipping downstate to Belmont Park, where he recently worked a half-mile in 50.04 seconds over the Belmont training track.

Mott was unsure as to when Queens Empire would make his career debut but expects him to develop as a 3-year-old.

"He's quite a way along in his training. He's a bit of a slow developing type. I think next year is going to be better for him than this year," Mott said. "We might get him started, but I'd like to get a race into him just for some experience and that might help him come along a little bit. His works have been okay but very workmanlike."

Mott said Queens Empire mimics his sire more so than his female relatives.

"He's more of an Empire Maker type. Maybe not as much as the female family," Mott said. "His mother was a Smart Strike and he has a little bit of Smart Strike in him I suppose. He's a big, rangy looking horse."