Ron the Greek pointing for JC Gold Cup; Royal Delta possible for Del 'Cap

Ron the Greek pointing for JC Gold Cup; Royal Delta

possible for Del 'Cap

The connections of the winners of the four graded events that took place on

Saturday night's "Downs After Dark" racing program at Churchill Downs confirmed

Sunday that their horses exited those races in good order.

Saturday was a big night for trainer Bill Mott, as he watched last year's

champion three-year-old filly Royal Delta romp in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis

followed closely by Ron the Greek's narrow victory in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster

Handicap.

Sunday morning, it was back to business at Belmont Park, where the Hall of

Fame trainer sent out last year's Grade 1 Cigar Mile winner To Honor and Serve

for a half-mile breeze in :48 1/5.

Mott briefly reflected on Royal Delta's eight-length triumph and and Ron the

Greek's gutsy head score.

"It was exciting just because she was so dominant," he said of Royal Delta,

who last year won Grade 1 races in the Alabama at Saratoga and Breeders' Cup

Ladies Classic at Churchill Downs.

The Empire Maker filly might make her next start in the Grade 2 Delaware

Handicap on July 21.

Ron the Greek, meanwhile, could make an appearance in New York later in the

fall in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Winner of the Grade 1

Santa Anita Handicap earlier this year, the son of Full Mandate has also

finished second in the Florida Sunshine Millions Classic and Grade 2 Oaklawn

Handicap this season.

"Right now, we're pointing for the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders' Cup and

maybe something before, but we don't know yet," Mott said. "That's the plan

right now. Hopefully, if he's healthy, three more races this year."

Ron the Greek and Royal Delta arrived at Churchill Downs last Monday and

their week beneath the Twin Spires will end on Monday as both ship back to their

New York base.

Trainer Ian Wilkes said Sunday morning that Neck 'n Neck was well after his

impressive 7 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Saturday night. Wilkes

said the Flower Alley sophomore would ship to his barn at the nearby Skylight

Training Center this week. No plans have been made for Neck 'n Neck's next

start.

Centre Court, winner of the 43rd running of the Grade 3 Regret, was reported

to be in great shape Sunday morning by trainer Rusty Arnold. He said the

three-year-old daughter of Smart Strike was en route by van to his base at

Keeneland.

Arnold indicated Saturday night the likely destination for Centre Court is

the Grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park on July 14.

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