How to bet the Royal Delta Stakes

An excellent field of eight fillies and mares will travel 1 1/16 miles in the $100,000 Royal Delta S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Three of the octet ride multiple-race win streaks, and this appears to be a very good betting affair.

Here is my take:

Royal Delta Analysis

The pace should be swift and contested. #2 Gibberish (8-1) has won three straight while being on the lead for nearly every call in each of her recent victories. The Joseph pupil is two-for-four on the course, and the daughter of Lea has fired a pair of bullets in succession in advance of the Royal Delta, too. She will be sent from the start by Gaffalione.

#6 Bajan Girl (9-2) had won two straight in front-running fashion at Gulfstream Park West prior to a third-place finish in the recent Rampart S. (G3) here. The Rohan Crichton trainee had the misfortune of dueling with the fleet Letruska on that occasion, but she might get the jump early on in this affair with a clean break. I love that she draws outside of the major pace in the cast, and I give her a big chance at a fair price.

#3 Eres Tu (3-1) was three-for-three in 2020 while always being among the early tempo, and she will be forwardly placed coming in fresh for Delacour. #7 Mrs. Danvers (2-1) took the Comely S. (G3) in wire-to-wire fashion in her three-year-old finale for conditioner Shug McGaughey. The gray filly has won from pressing the pace in the past, and she will never be far back while making her local debut.

While I am tempted to find a contender that will rally from well off the pace in the Royal Delta, I feel that there is too much quality from the forwardly placed runners to look elsewhere.

Bajan Girl will be a key for me in vertical wagers. Speightstown filly has never run a bad one on the dirt, and I envision her being the one to catch turning for home with Junior Alvarado in the stirrups.

Royal Delta Wagers

• $10 Win and Place: #6 Bajan Girl ($20)
• $6 Exacta Box: 6-7 ($12)
• $3 Exacta Key Box: 6 with 2,3 ($12)
• $.50-cent Trifecta: 6 with 2,3,7 with all ($9)