Kentucky Derby Prep Races: Royal Delta Stakes 2025

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Royal Delta Stakes 2025: Grand Job Faces Tough Competition at Gulfstream

A competitive field of 11 fillies and mares will go head-to-head in the $165,000 Royal Delta Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park on February 15. The 1 1/16-mile dirt contest features a mix of seasoned stakes runners and up-and-coming talent, all looking to add a graded stakes victory to their resume.

As the Kentucky Derby Prep Races continue to shape the 3-year-old division, older fillies and mares get their chance to shine in this key race. With Kentucky Derby odds fluctuating as more prep races unfold, bettors will closely watch this race for insights into emerging talent. 

Kentucky Derby betting may not be directly impacted, but strong performances here could highlight horses to follow in future graded stakes.

Saffie Joseph Jr. Sends Three

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is a major player in this year’s Royal Delta, entering three contenders. Intrepid Daydream, a Maryland-bred daughter of Jess’s Dream, has been knocking on the door with three in-the-money finishes in her last four starts. While she hasn’t won since taking the 2023 Politely Stakes, she has proven her ability at this distance.

Libban, another Joseph trainee, has been active in graded company but has yet to secure a breakthrough win. She enters off nine starts in 2024, including last year’s Royal Delta, but has struggled to crack the top four in this level of competition. Meanwhile, Dazzling Move makes her graded debut and will look to show she belongs at this class level.

Grand Job Looks to Continue Hot Streak

Grand Job, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, is among the top challengers. Since arriving from the UK, the Justify filly has been a force on dirt, winning twice in gate-to-wire fashion. Before transitioning to American racing, she had three runner-up finishes from four starts on turf. She will be stretching out in the distance for her third dirt start, and her early speed could make her dangerous.

Pletcher’s Autumn Evening Ready for Step-Up

Todd Pletcher’s Autumn Evening enters off an eye-catching allowance optional, claiming a win at Gulfstream. The Malibu Moon filly rallied from off the pace to secure victory in her 2025 debut, extending her streak of top-three finishes in all seven career starts since breaking her maiden. She has shown steady improvement; this could be the race where she establishes herself as a graded stakes contender.

Other Notable Contenders

American Retro, trained by Ian Wilkes, is stepping up in class after showing promise in previous races. Dream Concert, with Javier Castellano aboard for Kathleen O’Connell, is searching for a breakthrough stakes performance. At the same time, Foreseen, trained by George R. Arnold II, will need to improve to factor against this field.

Riding Pretty, trained by Eddie Owens Jr., enters as an unknown at this level. At the same time, Miss New York, conditioned by Jorge Delgado, has shown flashes of potential but remains unpredictable. Finally, Neon Icon, another runner from the Arnold barn, could be a sleeper pick if he gets the right trip.

With a deep and well-matched field, the Royal Delta Stakes promises an exciting race with key implications for the older filly and mare division. Check out our racebook for all the latest odds, insights, and expert betting analysis.