Dettori has smooth flight aboard Princess Bettina in China Doll Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - Frankie Dettori had a better trip aboard Princess Bettina in Saturday’s $100,500 China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita than he did on a Mexico-bound airliner earlier this week.
Princess Bettina led throughout the China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf, winning by 4 1/4 lengths over 3-2 favorite Comanche Country.
The China Doll Stakes was Dettori’s sixth stakes win of the winter-spring meeting and came days after his brief getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, was postponed a day because of mechanical issues on a plane.
The jet was en route to Mexico when it turned back to the Los Angeles airport, he said. Dettori said he flew to Mexico the following day.
Dettori rode Princess Bettina for the first time in the China Doll, which drew a field of six. Princess Bettina was in front shortly after the start and set fractions of 23.09 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.89 for a half-mile.
Princess Bettina led by as much as two lengths for the first half of the race, a margin that was reduced to a length on the turn when Havana Angel made a brief bid. Princess Bettina widened her lead to six lengths in the stretch to clinch the win.
Dettori had favorable first impressions of Princess Bettina ($7.40) from the recent workout.
“She worked like a bomb,” he said. “I thought she was quite useful.
“I had no plans,” Dettori said of his race tactics.
Princess Bettina set the pace for the first time in the China Doll in her seventh start for owner and breeder Don Dizney and trainer Peter Eurton. The filly’s only previous win was a maiden race on turf at Santa Anita in October.
Princess Bettina was timed in 1:36.19 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 85. She was 4-1 when the field was being loaded in the gate and was the subject of late win bets.
Comanche Country, a two-time stakes winner in 2022 who was seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland in November, finished a length in front of 11-1 Tea N Conversation. The China Doll was Comanche Country’s first start of 2023.
Paris Secret, Havana Angel and The Wild Grazer completed the order of finish. The Wild Grazer and Princess Bettina were second and third in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 12.
The Wild Grazer was the 2-1 second choice in the China Doll. She was upset behind the gate and unseated jockey Juan Hernandez as the field was being loaded. The Wild Grazer was as close as third early, but faded through the stretch.
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