Pace setup could favor Galactic Princess in Encantadora

Galactic Princess could get the right kind of pace setup on Sunday, when she shoots for the third stakes win of her career in the $30,000 Encantadora at Arapahoe Park. The closer facing nine others should get a quick pace to run down courtesy Starry Starry Skys, Lively Tale, Ms Wild Rush, Beau Me Fast and the fresh Last Dragoness.

The Encantadora is for 3-year-old fillies over six furlongs and it shares a card with the $40,000 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association Futurity. Galactic Princess is part of a 10-horse field that also includes Lucky Dolly, a recent allowance winner at Turf Paradise, and Wicked Love, a maiden previously based at Santa Anita.

Galactic Princess is one of two stakes winners in the field, the other being Last Dragoness, who is making her first start since winning the CTBA Lassie on this date in 2016 at Arapahoe. Galactic Princess won two stakes last year, the Arapahoe Park Debutante and the Arizona Juvenile Fillies at Turf Paradise.

Galactic Princess has been favored in both of her starts this meet at Arapahoe, where she closed for third in the Ingrid Knotts on May 27 then rallied for second in an allowance June 17. Scott Stevens has the mount on Galactic Princess, a daughter of Ready’s Image and the mare Western Hemisphere, a multiple stakes winner of $417,575. Ty Garrett trains for Hilltop Stable and Eleanor Martin.

Wicked Love exits a $40,000 maiden claiming turf sprint June 1. She finished fifth in the race that has produced two next-out winners including winner Painting Corners, who returned in her next start to account for a $32,000 optional claiming race at Santa Anita.

The CTBA Futurity cast of 12 is led by A J Samurai, a son of First Samurai who won a maiden special weight for Colorado-breds by 6 1/2 lengths in his career debut June 17 at Arapahoe. The chief threat could be another recent maiden winner, Fine With Me, whose dam, Meadow Dancer, won three stakes including the CTBA Lassie and CTBA Oaks.

Pat Day to speak at Arapahoe

The retired Hall of Fame rider Pat Day is scheduled to speak at a Racetrack Chaplaincy of America benefit on Monday night at Arapahoe Park. Earlier in the day, there will be a benefit golf tournament at the Spring Valley Golf Club in Elizabeth, Colo. The evening’s festivities with Day will include music from the award-winning group Branded.