Fast-finishing Princesa Carolina takes Dueling Grounds Oaks
FRANKLIN, Kentucky – Trainer Ken McPeek said he returned from the Saratoga meeting to look in on his string at Churchill Downs and was shocked when a groom walked Princesa Carolina out of her stall.
“I barely even recognized her. She’s gotten so big and strong,” McPeek said.
Princesa Carolina was bigger, stronger, and – most importantly – faster than her foes Sunday at Kentucky Downs in the $348,250 Dueling Grounds Oaks. Jockey Jose Ortiz had to change his plans about a quarter-mile from the race’s finish, switching to the far outside instead of splitting horses, and Princesa Carolina still was along in plenty of time.
“I had to come outside everyone, but I had so much horse I thought she could do it,” Ortiz said.
Wildlife, last much of the 1 5/16-mile trip, drafted in behind Princesa Carolina to make her stretch run and a furlong-and-a-half out looked like she had a shot, but Princesa Carolina lengthened again and crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths to the good. Princesa Carolina was timed in 2:08.85 over a firm, fast-playing course. That time, if accurate, would destroy the course-record 2:10.97 the McPeek-trained filly Daddy’s Little Darling clocked two years ago.
Princesa Carolina paid $3.60 as the strong favorite and scored an important first stakes win for owner-breeder Three Chimneys Farm, which entered and withdrew the filly from the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale. Princesa Carolina is by Tapit out of the multiple Grade 1-winning turf mare Pure Clan and is her first runner among five to race that has found much success on the track. McPeek said Princesa Carolina would probably make her next start in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup over nine furlongs Oct. 12 at Keeneland.
Indigo Gin, who wound up fourth behind third-place High Regard, set out for the front from post 1 but was hounded through a strong early pace by Red Rounder, creating the conditions for the top two finishers to make up ground over a generally speed-favoring course. Wildlife raced a distant last in the early going and took nearly a mile to catch the field, and though she found a good stride at the top of the homestretch, it wasn’t enough to catch the big, strong gray filly churning along in front of her.