The Royal Delta Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A race for fillies and mares aged four and older, it is run over a distance of miles on dirt. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.

History

The inaugural running of the race took place on 17 February 1991 as the Sabin Breeders' Cup Handicap over a distance of miles and was won by Fit for a Queen who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey in a time of 1:42.50.

The event was named in honor for Henryk de Kwiatkowski's multiple Grade I stakes-winning filly Sabin and winner of the 1984 Orchid Handicap at this track where this event is held. Born in 1980, she won 18 of her 25 starts.

The event was classified as Grade III in 1994. In 2009 the conditions of the event were changed to stakes allowances and the race was run as the Sabin Stakes.

Royal Delta, winner of Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in 2011 and 2012 won this race in 2013 easily by 5 lengths as the 2/5on favorite. In 2015, Gulfstream Park renamed the race after the three-time Eclipse Award winner to the Royal Delta Stakes.

This race was upgraded to a Grade II event for its 2014 running but returned to Grade III status in 2018.

The event has had numerous distance changes which can be viewed in the winner's table in the Winners section of this article.

Records Speed record: miles – 1:41:00 Devil's Cave (2014) 1 mile – 1:35.18 Blamed (2019) 1 mile & 70 yards – 1:39.57 Hunzinga (1994) miles – 1:50.49 Taittinger Rose (2006)

Margins: 8 lengths – Awesome Maria (2012)

Most wins: 2 – Awesome Maria (2011, 2012)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – John Velazquez (2004, 2005, 2011, 2012)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 – Saffie Joseph Jr. (2020, 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – H. Joseph Allen (1997, 2004) 2 – Hobeau Farm (1998, 2007) 2 – Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein (2001, 2003) 2 – E. Paul Robsham Stables (2011, 2012) 2 - Miller Racing (2025, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefRoyal Delta Stakes2026Claret Beret5Micah J. HusbandsSaffie Joseph Jr.Miller Racing miles1:44.86$150,000III 2025Dazzling Move4Dylan DavisSaffie Joseph Jr.Miller Racing miles1:45.08$150,000III2024Honor D Lady4Jose L. OrtizSaffie Joseph Jr.Final Furlong Farm & Madaket Stables miles1:44.74$154,000III2023Classy Edition4Irad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. Pletcher Robert E. & Lawana L. Low miles1:45.15$150,000III2022Letruska 6Jose L. OrtizFausto GutierrezSt George Stables miles1:43.43$150,000III2021Queen Nekia 6Corey LanerieSaffie Joseph Jr.Ken Copenhaver miles1:43.62$100,000III2020Cookie Dough 4Paco LopezSaffie Joseph Jr. Arindel miles1:43.57$150,000III2019Blamed 4Irad Ortiz Jr.William I. Mott Cleber J. Massey1 mile1:35.18$150,000III2018Martini Glass 5Paco LopezKeith Nations Vince Campanella & Nation's Racing Stable 1 mile1:36.48$200,000III2017Curlin's Approval 4Luis SaezMartin D. WolfsonAlter's Racing Stable miles1:44.90$200,000II2016Penwith 5Luis SaezKiaran P. McLaughlin Godolphin Racing miles1:43.16$200,000II2015Sheer Drama 5Joe BravoDavid FawkesHarold L. Queen miles1:43.85$200,000IISabin Stakes2014Devil's Cave 4Javier CastellanoMartin D. Wolfson Alpha Delta Stables miles1:41.00$215,000II2013Royal Delta 5Mike E. SmithWilliam I. Mott Besilu Stables miles1:43.31$98,000III2012Awesome Maria 5Todd A. Pletcher E. Paul Robsham Stables miles1:42.82$98,000III2011Awesome Maria 4John R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher E. Paul Robsham Stables1 mile1:36.38$100,000III2010Aurora Lights 4Eric Coatrieux Chiefswood Stables 1 mile1:37.79$100,000III2009One Caroline 4Edgar S. PradoGeorge R. Arnold II G. Watts Humphrey Jr.1 mile1:36.87$100,000IIISabin Handicap2008Lady Marlboro 4Javier CastellanoJames A. Jerkens Susan & John Moore1 mile1:37.21$98,000IIIGolden Velvet 5Eibar CoaKiaran P. McLaughlin Darley Stable2007Swap Fliparoo 4Javier CastellanoH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1 mile1:37.73$140,000III2006Taittinger Rose 5Edgar S. PradoWilliam I. Mott Mike G. Rutherford miles1:50.49$100,000III2005 5John R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher Sumaya U.S. Stable miles1:50.68$100,000III2004Roar Emotion 4John R. VelazquezKiaran P. McLaughlinH. Joseph Allen miles1:43.32$100,000III2003Allamerican Bertie 4Jerry D. BaileySteven B. FlintRichard, Bertram & Elaine Klein miles1:42.49$100,000III2002Miss Linda (ARG) 5Richard MiglioreJohn C. Kimmel Ackerley Brothers Farm miles1:42.61$100,000III2001De Bertie 4Jorge F. ChavezBernard S. FlintRichard, Bertram & Elaine Klein miles1:44.74$103,000III2000Brushed Halory 4Mike E. SmithJosie CarrollJames & Alice Sapara1 mile & 70 yards1:41.84$75,000III1999Timely Broad 5Nicholas J. PetroMichael P. PetroTimothy Cunningham1 mile & 70 yards1:42.50$75,000III1998Radiant Megan 5Julie KroneH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1 mile & 70 yards1:41.25$75,000III1997Rare Blend 4Jerry D. BaileyClaude R. McGaughey IIIH. Joseph Allen1 mile & 70 yards1:41.28$75,000III1996Lindsay Frolic 4Pat DayMilton W. Wolfson Stride Rite Racing Stable 1 mile & 70 yards1:43.70$75,000III1995Recognizable 4Mike E. SmithClaude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps1 mile & 70 yards1:42.50$75,000III1994Hunzinga 5Julio E. FelixBarranet Farquharson Pauline Farquharson1:39.57$75,000III1993Now Dance 4Mark GuidryJ. Bert Sonnier Saron Stable1 mile & 70 yards1:41.68$50,000 Listed 1992Lemhi Go 4Robert Neal LesterRobert G. Voelkner R Magers miles1:44.79$75,000 Listed 1991Fit for a Queen 5Jerry D. Bailey Hermitage Farm miles1:42.50$76,700 Listed

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races References