Regaled wheels back to break through in Delaware Handicap
Only 15 days since her last race, Regaled got a patient ride from Joe Ramos as she rallied from worst to first to win by 6 1/4 lengths Sunday in the 88th running of the Grade 3, $392,000 Delaware Handicap for five fillies and mares at Delaware Park.
Wheeling back from a third-place finish in the Locust Grove (G2) at Churchill Downs, 4-year-old Regaled (3-1) earned her first stakes victory in eight tries. The daughter of Mohaymen made only her third start for trainer Whit Beckman, who took over when Regaled was sold this spring.
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Odds-on favorite Dazzling Move (4-5) set early fractions of 22.83, 47.02 and 1:10.98 in the two-turn, 1 1/8-mile race. But the Grade 3 winner trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Micah Husbands lugged out badly and blew the end of the second turn.
Runaway Diva (14-1) and Majestic Oops (2-1) took advantage of the big opening at the top of the stretch. Regaled was third when she made a wide turn for home.
In the homestretch Regaled accelerated past Majestic Oops and then Runaway Diva to take the lead through a mile in 1:38.36. She drew away to a winning time of 1:50.94 on the main track made muddy by earlier rain.
“She broke sharp today, and she tried to drag me into the first turn, so I was trying to get her to relax a little bit, because I know her move is from coming off the pace,” Ramos said. “She settled nicely, and at three-eighths, I tapped her, and she jumped forwarded. At that point, I knew I had them.”
The track was more than just muddy. It was difficult to glide over it.
“I was actually running out of googles on the backside, because the track was muddy and sticky,” Ramos said. “Everything was sticking to them, but I was thinking I need to have at least one left to bring this home. I kept pushing and going, and she responded. In the stretch she was strong, and I am super proud of the way she ran today.”
Runaway Diva finished second, Dazzling Move was third, Majestic Oops fourth and Queen of Missoula (25-1) last. Margie’s Intention and Gun Song were scratched.
Regaled paid $8.40, $3.80 and $2.60; Runaway Diva $11.00 and $4.20; and Dazzling Move $2.20.
A $300,000 purchase at the Inglis Digital sale in May, Regaled is owned by Ribble Farms and Front Page Equestrian. She was put up for auction by former owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bobby Flay.
In her first race after being moved from Samuel Davis to Beckman, Regaled finished a close second to Impel in the Groupie Doll on Aug. 10 at Ellis Park.