Royal Delta Stakes
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Royal Delta Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A race for fillies and mares aged four and older, it is run over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on dirt. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.
Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States
| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1991 (as Sabin Breeders' Cup Handicap) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Four-year-olds and older Fillies and mares |
| Weight | 123 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $150,000 (since 2022) |
History
The inaugural running of the race took place on 17 February 1991 as the Sabin Breeders' Cup Handicap over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles and was won by Fit for a Queen who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey in a time of 1:42.50.[1]
The event was named in honor for Henryk de Kwiatkowski's multiple Grade I stakes-winning filly Sabin and winner of the 1984 Orchid Handicap at this track where this event is held. Born in 1980, she won 18 of her 25 starts.[2]
The event was classified as Grade III in 1994.[3] In 2009 the conditions of the event were changed to stakes allowances and the race was run as the Sabin Stakes.[3]
Royal Delta, winner of Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in 2011 and 2012 won this race in 2013 easily by 5 lengths as the 2/5on favorite.[4] In 2015, Gulfstream Park renamed the race after the three-time Eclipse Award winner to the Royal Delta Stakes.[5]
This race was upgraded to a Grade II event for its 2014 running[3] but returned to Grade III status in 2018.[6]
The event has had numerous distance changes which can be viewed in the winner's table in the Winners section of this article.[3]
Records
Speed record:
- 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:41:00 Devil's Cave (2014)
- 1 mile – 1:35.18 Blamed (2019)
- 1 mile & 70 yards – 1:39.57 Hunzinga (1994)
- 1+1⁄8 miles – 1:50.49 Taittinger Rose (2006)
Margins:
- 8 lengths – Awesome Maria (2012)
Most wins:
- 2 – Awesome Maria (2011, 2012)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 – John Velazquez (2004, 2005, 2011, 2012)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 5 – Saffie Joseph Jr. (2020, 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – H. Joseph Allen (1997, 2004)
- 2 – Hobeau Farm (1998, 2007)
- 2 – Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein (2001, 2003)
- 2 – E. Paul Robsham Stables (2011, 2012)
- 2 - Miller Racing (2025, 2026)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Delta Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2026 | Claret Beret | 5 | Micah J. Husbands | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Miller Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.86 | $150,000 | III | [7] |
| 2025 | Dazzling Move | 4 | Dylan Davis | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Miller Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.08 | $150,000 | III | [8] |
| 2024 | Honor D Lady | 4 | Jose L. Ortiz | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Final Furlong Farm & Madaket Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.74 | $154,000 | III | [9] |
| 2023 | Classy Edition | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Robert E. & Lawana L. Low | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.15 | $150,000 | III | [10] |
| 2022 | Letruska | 6 | Jose L. Ortiz | Fausto Gutierrez | St George Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.43 | $150,000 | III | [11] |
| 2021 | Queen Nekia | 6 | Corey Lanerie | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Ken Copenhaver | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.62 | $100,000 | III | [12] |
| 2020 | Cookie Dough | 4 | Paco Lopez | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Arindel | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.57 | $150,000 | III | [13] |
| 2019 | Blamed | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | William I. Mott | Cleber J. Massey | 1 mile | 1:35.18 | $150,000 | III | [14] |
| 2018 | Martini Glass | 5 | Paco Lopez | Keith Nations | Vince Campanella & Nation's Racing Stable | 1 mile | 1:36.48 | $200,000 | III | [15] |
| 2017 | Curlin's Approval | 4 | Luis Saez | Martin D. Wolfson | Alter's Racing Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.90 | $200,000 | II | [16] |
| 2016 | Penwith | 5 | Luis Saez | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Godolphin Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.16 | $200,000 | II | [17] |
| 2015 | Sheer Drama | 5 | Joe Bravo | David Fawkes | Harold L. Queen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.85 | $200,000 | II | [18] |
| Sabin Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2014 | Devil's Cave | 4 | Javier Castellano | Martin D. Wolfson | Alpha Delta Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.00 | $215,000 | II | [19] |
| 2013 | Royal Delta | 5 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Besilu Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.31 | $98,000 | III | [4] |
| 2012 | Awesome Maria | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | E. Paul Robsham Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.82 | $98,000 | III | [20] |
| 2011 | Awesome Maria | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | E. Paul Robsham Stables | 1 mile | 1:36.38 | $100,000 | III | [21] |
| 2010 | Aurora Lights | 4 | Cornelio Velasquez | Eric Coatrieux | Chiefswood Stables | 1 mile | 1:37.79 | $100,000 | III | [22] |
| 2009 | One Caroline | 4 | Edgar S. Prado | George R. Arnold II | G. Watts Humphrey Jr. | 1 mile | 1:36.87 | $100,000 | III | [23] |
| Sabin Handicap | ||||||||||
| 2008 | Lady Marlboro | 4 | Javier Castellano | James A. Jerkens | Susan & John Moore | 1 mile | 1:37.21 | $98,000 | III | Dead heat[24] |
| Golden Velvet | 5 | Eibar Coa | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Darley Stable | ||||||
| 2007 | Swap Fliparoo | 4 | Javier Castellano | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 1 mile | 1:37.73 | $140,000 | III | [25] |
| 2006 | Taittinger Rose | 5 | Edgar S. Prado | William I. Mott | Mike G. Rutherford | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.49 | $100,000 | III | [26] |
| 2005 | Isola Piu Bella (CHI) | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Sumaya U.S. Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.68 | $100,000 | III | [27] |
| 2004 | Roar Emotion | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | H. Joseph Allen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.32 | $100,000 | III | [28] |
| 2003 | Allamerican Bertie | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Steven B. Flint | Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.49 | $100,000 | III | [29] |
| 2002 | Miss Linda (ARG) | 5 | Richard Migliore | John C. Kimmel | Ackerley Brothers Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.61 | $100,000 | III | [30] |
| 2001 | De Bertie | 4 | Jorge F. Chavez | Bernard S. Flint | Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.74 | $103,000 | III | [31] |
| 2000 | Brushed Halory | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Josie Carroll | James & Alice Sapara | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.84 | $75,000 | III | [32] |
| 1999 | Timely Broad | 5 | Nicholas J. Petro | Michael P. Petro | Timothy Cunningham | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.50 | $75,000 | III | [33] |
| 1998 | Radiant Megan | 5 | Julie Krone | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.25 | $75,000 | III | [34] |
| 1997 | Rare Blend | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Claude R. McGaughey III | H. Joseph Allen | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.28 | $75,000 | III | [35] |
| 1996 | Lindsay Frolic | 4 | Pat Day | Milton W. Wolfson | Stride Rite Racing Stable | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:43.70 | $75,000 | III | [36] |
| 1995 | Recognizable | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.50 | $75,000 | III | [37] |
| 1994 | Hunzinga | 5 | Julio E. Felix | Barranet Farquharson | Pauline Farquharson | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:39.57 | $75,000 | III | [38] |
| 1993 | Now Dance | 4 | Mark Guidry | J. Bert Sonnier | Saron Stable | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.68 | $50,000 | Listed | [39] |
| 1992 | Lemhi Go | 4 | Robert Neal Lester | Robert G. Voelkner | R Magers | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.79 | $75,000 | Listed | [40] |
| 1991 | Fit for a Queen | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Claude R. McGaughey III | Hermitage Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.50 | $76,700 | Listed | [1] |