Father beats son, wins first stakes in Spruce Fir
It was father over son Monday at Monmouth as Princess Georgia beat favored Diamond Play by a half-length in the $75,000 Spruce Fir Stakes.
Calixto Juarez trains Princess Georgia and said he offered the mount on the mare to his son, jockey Nik Juarez, who instead chose to ride Diamond Play.
“He made a mistake, but kids don’t always listen to their parents, so what can you do?” said the elder Juarez, who won his first stakes race.
Carlos Hernandez rode the winner, who was sixth at the stretch call but rallied wide to get up in this six-furlong dash for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares. Groovy Surprise, the 23-10 favorite, finished another half-length back in third. Princess Georgia was timed in 1:11.93 for six furlongs on a fast track and paid $11.20 to win.
Six-year-old Princess Georgia is by El Padrino and out of Vodka High, by Mount McKinley. She’s owned by C J Racing and was bred by Reeve Schely III.