7th-Belmont The Big A, $85,000, Msw, 9-13, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.06, fm, nose.
NOBLE DYNASTY (c, 2, Kingman {GB}–Delta's Royalty {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), a hard-charging second on Saratoga debut Aug. 7, validated 8-5 favoritism–if only just–while making his second trip to the races Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct.
By one of Europe's top stallions, the maternal grandson of three-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta (Empire Maker) was trapped out four wide entering the first turn, but when longshot Golden Rule (Goldencents) went on with it to put a bit of pressure on the front-runner, that allowed Junior Alvarado to slot in one off the fence with some cover heading to the backstretch.
Allowed to roll forward to be in a position to have first crack at the leader when the real running started, Noble Dynasty nosed in front at the quarter pole, but was immediately confronted by the well-backed British Invasion (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Shoulder to shoulder into the final furlong, Noble Dynasty eventually got the better of that battle, then was all out to hold off the first-time blinkered Quiet Power (Tapit), who came at him hard to just miss.
A daughter of MGSW Delta Princess (A.P. Indy), 'TDN Rising Star' Royal Delta closed a championship season at three with a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, then was purchased a few days later by Ben Leon's Besilu Stables for $8.5 million to top the 2011 Keeneland November Sale. She cemented a second straight championship with a title defense at the Breeders' Cup in 2012 and was retired in late 2013. Two attempts to get in foal to Galileo (Ire) failed, but she finally caught in 2016 and she produced Delta's Royalty the following year, but tragically passed away due to foaling complications.
Delta's Royalty is also the dam of the yearling filly Royal Victoria (Into Mischief) and a filly by Gun Runner foaled this past Apr. 16. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $66,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Besilu Stables LLC (KY); T-William I Mott.
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