How to bet the Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes
July 4th, 2025
The feature on an eight-race card at Delaware Park on Saturday is the $250,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial S. (G3), a turf test at about 1 3/8 miles for fillies and mares. A cast of six will vie in the grassy marathon, and I will give top billing to the Group-1 placed #5 Spanish Eyes (7-2) in her second start in the States.
Robert G. Dick Memorial Wagers
Now conditioned by Brendan Walsh, the bay filly flashed good potential as a sophomore with a daylight debut win, as well as a pair of good tries at the top level, led by a second in the German Oaks (G1) at Duisseldorf while running for just the third time in her career.
The Zarak miss, who was purchased for more than $1.3 million at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in December, ran evenly at Churchill Downs in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race on May 17 and will appreciate getting the added ground on Saturday. She has not missed a beat since her last appearance with five well-spaced morning moves leading up to her first try at Delaware, and I expect her to be moving best of all late beneath Jaime Rodriguez.
Morning-line choice and likely pacesetter #1 Marksman Queen (8-5) comes off of a gate-to-wire triumph in the Keertana S. beneath the Twin Spires last out and will be a major threat with even minor improvement in this affair. The Graham Motion pupil has elevated her game since moving to marathon trips in October, and I envision her taking full advantage of the rail post to take command of the race soon after the break. By the mighty Dubawi, the five-year-old will have Jorge Ruiz in the silks in hopes of giving her trainer a tenth win in the contest.
#4 Boss Lady Bailey (6-1) has not been consistent from a quartet of outings since joining the Mike Maker shedrow, but she does have excuses for her first pair of runs for this barn, and her last pair of performances hint that she has found her niche. The Connect mare is hard to back for the win with a 3-for-22 lifetime record, but the mare seems logical as an exotics piece against this cast with Daniel Centeno guiding the late runner.
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