Invested Prospect tested at a mile in Irish Day Stakes
Invested Prospect will try to remain undefeated when she runs in the $50,000 Irish Day Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs on Sunday.
Trained by Blaine Wright, Invested Prospect will be stretching out to middle distance for the first time in the one-mile race, which drew eight horses.
In all three of her wins, Invested Prospect led the whole way, and Wright is expecting her to be involved right from the start. She breaks from the outside post with Juan Gutierrez retaining the mount.
“I don’t think we need to change our plans with her,” said Wright. “There are some questions that she needs to answer, and how she runs will give us an idea of what we are going to do with her this summer.”
One of Wright’s concerns is that she could bounce following her impressive win in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes in her first start this year on May 8. She earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure for her 2 1/2-length win over B C Z Middleton.
“She seems to be doing well,” said Wright, “but she improved her Beyers by a significant amount and horses will bounce after running a big race coming off a layoff.”
Princess Katie ships in from Hastings ,where she is coming off a runner-up finish behind Snuggles in the $50,000 Ross McLeod.
Trainer Rob Gilker thinks she is set up for a good effort in her first route attempt.
“She ran a good race going seven furlongs at Santa Anita, so she should be able to handle the distance,” said Gilker.
He was referring to Princess’s Katie third-place finish in an optional $80,000 claiming race won by Bellamentary on March 18. Bellamentary won the $75,000 Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita on May 15, and she wasn’t the only subsequent stakes winner in the field. Treasuring, who finished fourth, won the $133,000 Star Shoot at Woodbine in her next start.
Irish Day, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Invested Prospect, by Abraaj
Last 3 Beyers: 75-54-54
◗ She is the speed of the speed, but Wright thinks she will be fine stalking if she doesn’t clear early.
“We’ll just let her run her race,” he said. “She’s rated behind horses in the mornings and she drew a nice post in case she does have to stalk.”
Princess Katie, by Finality
Last 3 Beyers: 71-60-70
◗ It looks like she fits, and Gilker won with three of his last seven starters at Emerald.
B C Z Middleton, by Nobiz Like Shobiz
Last 3 Beyers: 69-69-41
◗ Trained by Jeff Metz, she spotted the field quite a few lengths at the start in the Seattle Stakes and still managed to finish second.