Does Royal Delta Have A Shot?

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I don't love American horses in these races. There are a number of things that go into running there that have been explained and make winning very tough.

However, she has a shot. This is a TERRIBLE World Cup. Capponi, Side Glance, Red Cadeaux, Monterrosso, and African Story are all in the wrong race or in the race for the wrong reasons. Capponi hasn't run since last year's WC, Side Glance has been ineffective beyond a mile (African Story as well), Red Cadeaux is a distance horse, and Monterrosso was awful in his comeback earlier in March.

The rest of the international contingent is made up of Treasure Beach, who hasn't won since the 2011 Secretariat, Hunter's Light, the recently purchased pair of Planteur and Meandre, and Kassiano. Hunter's Light is a deserving favorite based on his prior efforts at the Carnival. However, even this weak field is tougher than what he's faced all winter. Kassiano drew a horrible post and seems to find trouble with regularity.

All that being said, I think Royal Delta has a shot. The stuff people are saying about her not handling the surface last year is garbage. If you watch the replay closely, the race was lost for her on the turn. Lezcano wrangled her back after she broke alertly. Smith is likely to let her get into the race a little earlier, which is a good thing, as this race is routinely run in a dawdle. In three synth runnings, the winner has been prominent the entire way. She'll be a crazy underlay at her likely price, but yes, she has a shot.

Stupid question but how does that surface play, more like Kee or more like HP?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Stupid question but how does that surface play, more like Kee or more like HP?

More like Keeneland.