Ribble Farms, Hoolie Racing and Kemp Racing Stable’s Regaled will try to become the eighth two-time winner of the $500,000 Grade III Delaware Handicap this Saturday. The 89th renewal of the mile-and-an-eighth test for fillies and mares has attracted a field of eleven.
The Delaware Handicap’s seven two-time winners are Elate (2018 and 2019), Royal Delta (2012 and 2013), Nastique (1988 and 1989), Susan’s Girl (1973 and 1975), Blessing Angelica (1971 and 1972), Obeah (1969 and 1970) and Endine (1958 and 1959).
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The Delaware Handicap is a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series race for the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff on October 31 at Keeneland. The top three finishers will receive credits toward Distaff entry fees: $30,000 for first, $15,000 for second and $7,500 for third.
Regaled won last year’s Delaware Handicap by 6 ¼ lengths before finishing third in the Grade I Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar Racecourse. Still seeking her first victory of 2026, the 5-year-old daughter of Mohaymen finished a solid second in both the Grade II Azeri at Oaklawn Park and, most recently, the Grade II Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 27. The Kentucky-bred, trained by D. Whitworth Beckman, has four wins, four seconds and four thirds from 23 starts, with earnings of $971,823.
Her Delaware Handicap victory last year and her seconds in the Azeri and Fleur de Lis this year came on muddy or sloppy tracks. Her connections hope for similar conditions Saturday.
“We have learned she is pace-dependent, and she prefers an off track, so everything came together at the right time for her in last year’s Delaware Handicap,” trainer D. Whitworth Beckman said. “There was a pretty fast pace in the Breeders’ Cup. Even though it did not come back, there was enough for us to have a good showing.”
Regaled has also shown an affinity for Delaware Park’s main track, winning the Delaware Handicap and finishing third in the 2024 Grade III Delaware Oaks.
“She is coming into the second part of her year really well,” Beckman said. “It is very much the same as last year. We are very happy with the way she is training. She has had a couple of really sharp works leading up to the race, so we are hopeful we are in the right spot and get the right setup. We know she likes Delaware, so hopefully everything will come together as it did last year.”
This is the largest field for the Delaware Handicap since 2005 when eleven started.
The Delaware Handicap has been carded as the tenth and final race on the card with an approximate post time of 5:45 p.m.
If St. Elias Stable, WSS Racing, Turf Express Racing and Miller Racing’s Eunomia, who won the Grade I Clement Hirsch at Del Mar in her most recent outing, or Delta Squad Racing, Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Michael Caruso’s Margie’s Intention, who won the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico last year, start in the race, the purse of the Delaware Handicap would increase to $600,000.
As the race condition reads, “In the event a 2025 or 2026 Grade 1 or 2 winner starts, the purse will increase to $600,000 Guaranteed of which $330,000 to the winner, $120,000 to second, $60,000 to third, $30,000 to fourth & $60,000 divided equally amongst the remaining finishers.”
Barbadian Runner tops Battery Park Stakes
AJ Will Win Stables’ Barbadian Runner tops a field of six in the $200,000 Battery Park at Delaware Park this Saturday. The mile and an eighth test for 3-year-olds and upward has been carded as the sixth race with an approximate post time of 3:26 p.m.
In his most recent, 4-year-old son of Barbados ran fifth in the mile and eighth $1,000,000 Grade II Charles Town Classic on August 28. Previously, the Maryland-bred trained by Henry Walters ran second in the mile and an eighth $100,000 Yorktown at Colonial Downs on July 25. At Delaware Park, he has two seconds from two starts including the Delaware Derby. He sports a career record of nine wins, eight seconds and four thirds with earnings of $980,250.
“He is coming into this as good as he could possibly be,” said trainer Henry Walters. “He recovered his last in the Charles Town Classic. The race was a run a little rough, but he has recovered nicely and he is ready to go. He tries every time and I feel extremely fortunate to have him. Not many horses of this quality and who are consistent come along. This race sets up well for him. The ultimate goal for him is the Maryland Million, so this race works out extremely well for him time wise.”
Westbound Cat goes back to two turns in Rocky Run Stakes
John Hazard’s Westbound Cat will go back to two turns when he faces seven rivals in the one mile $150,000 Rocky Run Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday.
In his most recent, the 2-year-old son of Aloha West finished fourth in the restricted six furlong $125,000 First State Dash at Delaware Park on September 11. Previously, the Kentucky-bred trained by Gary Capuano broke his maiden by 6 ¾-lengths going one mile at Delaware Park on August 27. In his only other outing, he finished unlaced in a maiden at Laurel Park on June 14.
