Peter Brandt’s Kentucky-bred Regal Glory sped clear early and was never seriously threatened in rolling to an impressive victory in the $400,000 Matriarch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 28.
The 5-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom ventured west to Southern California from trainer Chad Brown’s New York base. She capitalized on being left alone on the front end, running her rivals off their feet to score by 2 ½ lengths in 1:35.33 for the mile on turf. Jose Ortiz piloted Regal Glory to victory.
“I thought I’d have the lead and thought I was the only real speed in the race,” Ortiz said. “We got away with some easy fractions and then she had lots for the finish.”
The $240,000 winner’s share of the purse increased Regal Glory’s career earnings to $1,244,884. She is now a winner in nine of 15 lifetime starts, and she has placed in four others. Regal Glory’s additional Graded stakes wins have come in the 2020 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. (G3), and the 2019 Lake Placid S. (G2) and Lake George S. (G3), both at Saratoga.
Bred in the Bluegrass by Paul Pompa, Regal Glory is produced from the multiple Graded stakes-winning More Than Ready mare Mary’s Follies, an earner of $338,889.