Belmont: Munnings Sister regains form in Gold Princess

Sunday afternoon was a pleasant one for owner Charles Fipke, who learned that his 3-year-old colt Golden Soul is likely to secure a starting berth in the Kentucky Derby, and then watched his 4-year-old filly Munnings Sister win the Gold Princess overnight stakes at Belmont Park.

Despite the fact that her win in last fall’s Dream Supreme at Belmont made her the only stakes winner in the field of six fillies and mares, Munnings Sister paid $20.80 to win. That was because she had since finished off the board in three subsequent starts for trainer Barclay Tagg, while beaten anywhere from 12 to 35 lengths.

Munnings Sister, a full sister to three-time Grade 2 winner Munnings, recaptured her best form under Cornelio Velasquez, and ran down Silverette in the final furlong after tracking the favorite’s early fractions of 22.93 and 46.20 seconds.

Munnings Sister ran six furlongs in 1:09.67 seconds over a fast main track and earned $51,000 while improving to 5-0-1 from 11 career starts.

Silverette held on gamely to be clearly second best in her stakes debut.

Expression lagged behind early, and rallied on the outside late to edge Well Kept for the show spot. Ode to Sami and Enchante completed the order of finish.