Apache Princess makes Sweet Life first stakes victory

ARCADIA, Calif. - Apache Princess became the first three-time winner of the winter-spring meeting with a ground-saving trip in Sunday’s $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

Apache Princess won her first stakes in the Sweet Life, running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.82 on a wet-fast track. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 73.

The race was scheduled for turf and was transferred to the main track after early afternoon rain. The Sweet Life was listed as a Grade 3 race, but the race lost that status, at least temporarily, because of the surface switch. The Kentucky-based American Graded Stakes Committee will review the race later this week for a possible restoration of its graded status.

Sent off favored, Apache Princess ($4.60) was ridden by Kent Desormeaux for his brother, trainer Keith Desormeaux. The two brothers spoke midway through Sunday afternoon and decided to try Apache Princess on the wet-fast track, even though she had won on turf in her two preceding starts.

Breaking from the rail, Apache Princess was fourth for the first half-mile, stalking pacesetter Nomizar, who was ridden by Rafael Bejarano. Kent Desormeaux kept Apache Princess on the rail and found room entering the stretch to reach contention.

“Rafael made the lead and I didn’t ask her to do anything,” Kent Desormeaux said.“We started racing at the three and a half and she beat them.”

Apache Princess pulled clear in the final furlong to win by 3 1/4 lengths over 9-2 Thriving, who finished a head in front of 2-1 Splashy Kisses. Nomizar and Full Eclipse completed the order of finish in a small field. Kent Desormeaux lost his whip in the final furlong, but had command of the race at that point.

Ginger Nut, a three-time winner in England last summer, was scratched when the race was switched to dirt.

Apache Princess, by Unusual Heat, is owned by breeder KMN Racing. A California-bred, Apache Princess was winless in her first three starts. She won a maiden special weight race on the hillside turf course on Dec. 30 and an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option on the hillside on Jan. 21.

Last fall, Apache Princess was second and seventh in two starts on dirt. Apache Princess has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $171,960.

“It was worth another shot,” Keith Desormeaux said of racing on the main track. “She's still gaining fitness and maturity.”