Dona Clota powers late to win Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes

Dona Clota made her North American breakthrough look overdue and convincing, sweeping past a demanding pace to win the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes by a neck over Alluring Angel at Delaware Park. The Chilean-bred mare covered 1 3/8 miles on firm turf in 2:16.77, paid $5.20 to win and gave favorite backers the exact kind of late, grinding finish they had been waiting for.

The turning point came long before the stretch. Storm Miami set the table through sharp fractions of :26.01, :51.89, 1:17.53, 1:41.40 and 2:05.37, asking plenty of every runner in the field. Irad Ortiz Jr. kept Dona Clota settled in fifth, saving ground and energy while the leaders did the heavy lifting. When the field swung into the far turn, she started to move with purpose, then was put to a drive in the lane, grabbed the lead in midstretch and held Alluring Angel to the wire.

There was also a stewards' wrinkle behind her. Storm Miami crossed the finish line third, but was placed fourth after an inquiry for interference with Bellezza in the stretch. That only sharpened the final shape of the race, because Dona Clota did not just win a stakes, she survived the kind of traffic and pace pressure that usually separates a useful turf mare from one that can keep stepping into better company.

That matters because this was not some random upset from a new face. Dona Clota had already proved herself in Chile with two Group 1 victories for Stud Dona Lili before Resolute Racing bought her and brought her north. This was her sixth U.S. start since arriving in January 2025, and the result suggests the patience has finally started to cash in. Saffie Joseph Jr. has had her running like a mare built for marathon turf races, where stamina and timing matter more than raw speed, and that profile now fits the U.S. older-filly-and-mare division better than ever.

The Dick Memorial has long rewarded that kind of horse. The race, now in its 29th running and dating back to 1976, remains a serious summer test at Delaware Park, a venue in its 89th live season and one that leaned into the June 13 card as Delaware Oaks and Delaware Derby day. With this win, Dona Clota looks ready for the next layer of graded turf stakes, the kind of summer targets where a strong gallop, a patient ride and a late kick can still beat class on the far turn.