TVG Staff Report
Peter Brandt’s Regal Glory sped clear early and was never threatened by her five rivals the remainder of the way as she earned her first career top-level victory with a 2 ½-length win in the $400,500 Matriarch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 28.
The chestnut mare by Animal Kingdom was shipped east from the barn of four-time Eclipse Award winning-trainer Chad Brown stable and gave her conditioner his fourth win in the one-mile Matriarch. Fresh off a runner-up finish in the First Lady Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 9 where she was beaten just a half-length by stablemate Blowout (GB), Regal Glory took a backseat to no one on Sunday as she cut fractions of :24.06 and :48.50 en route to earning her ninth career win from 16 starts.
“That was the plan. She’s a really nice filly and she did it all,” said Jose Hernandez, assistant to Brown. “I had some moments (of concern)…but this filly was just the best.”
With Jose Ortiz in the irons, Regal Glory was tracked by Zofelle (IRE) throughout but kept that one at bay as she covered the distance in 1:35.33. Race favorite Princess Grace, who performs in the colors of Susan and John Moore, was third.
“I thought I’d have the lead and thought I was the only real speed in the race,” Ortiz said. “The horse inside (Princess Grace) has speed, but when she used it last time she didn’t finish. So I thought I’d be out front and it worked out just that way. We got away with some easy fractions and then she had lots for the finish.”
The winner paid $5.20, $3.00 and $2.10 across the board. Zofelle paid $5.40 and $3.00, while Princess Grace returned $2.40.
Regal Glory, a 5-year-old, earned the $240,000 winner’s share of the purse enabled her to raise her earning to $1,244,884.