Kaweah Princess gets good trip to upset Ballerina

Under a heady ride by Pedro Alvarado, Kaweah Princess scored an upset in the $98,200 Grade 3 Ballerina for fillies and mares at Hastings on Saturday.

Breaking sharply from her outside post in the 1 1/8-mile race that was contested over a sloppy track, Kaweah Princess ($19.90) stalked a quick pace set by Finality Philly and Sweet Nellie Brown. Staying well off the rail, Kaweah Princess started to approach the leaders approaching the quarter pole and then quickly opened up a clear lead going around the stretch turn. She took a five-length lead into the stretch and then held off heavily favored Summer Song by two lengths. Summer Song might have been best but she had to check sharply on the stretch turn while making a strong late move. Blue Sky Holiday edged Wind Storm for third.

“After she broke sharply I saw they were going to be going pretty fast up front so I eased her off of it,” said Alvarado. “I kept her wide and she felt very comfortable out there. When I asked her to go she just re-broke and took off.”

Final time for the race was 1:50.53.

Trained by Rob Gilker, Kaweah Princess earned $60,000 for her owners Very Un Stable.