Pace favors Princess Kennedy in Seattle Stakes
Princess Kennedy could feast on what figures to be a hotly contested pace in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes at Emerald Downs on Sunday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies attracted seven horses, including the undefeated Invested Prospect, who is making her first start of the year.
Princess Kennedy will appreciate the likely shape of the race and being back at home after running in four stakes in three states.
The last time she ran at Emerald, she won the Barbara Shinpoch Stakes by 8 3/4 lengths on Aug. 15. It was an impressive-enough performance for owner David Thorner to give her a shot in the Grade 2 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs, where she finished sixth. In her next start, she was overmatched when she ran ninth in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 2.
Princess Kennedy ended 2015 as the runner-up in the Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds and was freshened after a fifth-place finish in the $74,000 By the Light Stakes at Delta Downs on Jan. 8.
Trainer Tom Wenzel likes the way she is coming up to the race.
“We gave her a short break, and she’s doing very well right now,” said Wenzel. “It looks like there is a lot of speed in the race, and she can rate.”
Wenzel also trains Jerre to Carrie, who is fast and appears to have one way of going. She is coming off a head win over B C Z Middleton in a first-level allowance race April 9.
“I expect her to be in the race right from the start,” said Wenzel.
KEY CONTENDERS
Princess Kennedy, by Sun King
Last 3 Beyers: 54-62-59
◗ She figures to get a trip similar to the one when she romped in the Barbara Shinpoch.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years at Emerald, Wenzel has a 36 percent strike rate with horses coming back in 61 to 180 days. The last three he brought back in stakes from a similar layoff all won.
Find Joy, by Drosselmeyer
Last 3 Beyers: 42-69-59
◗ According to trainer Frank Lucarelli, she didn’t care for the Tapeta when she finished last of six in the Golden Gate Debutante in her last start.
◗ Her third in the $74,000 Anoakia at Santa Anita was enhanced when runner-up Uptown Twirl won the $75,000 Surfside at Los Alamitos with an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.
Invested Prospect, by Abraaj
Beyers: 54-54
◗ Trained by Blaine Wright, she led from start to finish in both of her starts as a 2-year-old and guarantees there will be a fast pace.
“She has been well prepared, but 6 1/2 furlongs is a tough distance for any horse coming off the bench,” said Wright.
◗ Wright is on fire at the meet, with an 8-1-1 record from 13 starters.