Dazzling Move ‘s unwavering resolve paid off in the final furlong of the $150,000 Royal Delta Stakes (G3) as the filly gutted out a three-quarter-length victory over Grand Job Feb. 15 at Gulfstream Park.
Making her first start for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. since being purchased privately by Miller Racing 19 days ago, Dazzling Move was sent off as the 7-2 second choice in the 1 1/16-mile Royal Delta.
Tucked into a stalking third position behind Grand Job and Intrepid Daydream through sizzling early fractions of :22.81 and :46.21, jockey Dylan Davis kept a snug hold on the eager Not This Time filly until the field swept into the run for the far turn. Passing a retreating Intrepid Daydream, Dazzling Move set her sights on Grand Job, wearing down the stubborn front-runner in a long battle to the wire.
“I thought we were in trouble when (jockey) Junior (Alvarado, on Grand Job) were getting into a good rhythm in front, but she really persevered for us and found a little extra,” Davis said.
Notching her first black-type stakes win, Dazzling Move ($9.20) stopped the timer in 1:45.08 on a fast main track. The Royal Delta increased the 4-year-old’s career earnings to $258,547.
Grand Job held on for second by three-quarters of length over a closing Autumn Evening in third.
Bred in Ontario by Jesse Korona, Dazzling Move was acquired by Marc Tacher for $135,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
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