Mariah's Princess has no problem with two turns in Mistletoe Stakes
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Mariah’s Princess won her two-turn debut with authority on Saturday when she powered to a three-length win over favorite Amendment Nineteen in the $150,000 Mistletoe Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Lovely Ride.
The Mistletoe was a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. It was being run for the first time and was created to complement the December opening of the meet at Oaklawn. Temperatures for the Saturday card were in the mid-60s and a large crowd turned out for the earliest weekend of racing in Oaklawn history – as well as its fifty-cent corned beef sandwich promotion that has become a tradition.
Mariah’s Princess ($6.60) broke well and settled just off the pace set by Lovely Ride, who took the field through an opening quarter in 24.46 seconds and a half-mile in 49.59. Mariah’s Princess moved to the lead through six furlongs in 1:13.67 and finished strongly from there, while covering the distance on a fast track in 1:44.02.
Martin Garcia was aboard the winner for trainer Philip Bauer.
Mariah’s Princess came into the Mistletoe off a first-level allowance win Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs. She rolled by 6 1/4 lengths in the race run over seven furlongs. Earlier in her career, she was a maiden special weight winner at Fair Grounds.
Mariah’s Princess is a daughter of Ghostzapper owned by Rigney Racing. She has now won 3 of 6 starts for earnings of $214,870.
The Mistletoe was the first Oaklawn stakes win for Bauer, who has expanded the number of horses he has brought to the meet for Rigney Racing.