Papaslilprincess tackles stakes company in California Governor’s Cup

Trainer Andy Mathis is hopeful heading into Northern California’s first main-track route stakes for fillies and mares, Saturday’s $75,000 California Governor’s Cup Handicap at the California State Fair in Sacramento.

Mathis is not entering the runner with the gaudiest credentials in the 1 1/16-mile race, but Papaslilprincess has several important factors in her favor.

The 4-year-old Harlington filly was a $25,000 claim by Mathis for Wendy Way Farms, Paul Hughes, and Len Panian on April 10, with the plan to run her on dirt at Pleasanton, where she was first under the wire before being disqualified to second in her dirt debut last year.

She pulled away to win an allowance by seven lengths at this distance July 4 at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet, impressing Mathis enough to enter her in her first stakes.

“This is not an easy race,” said Mathis, who is at Del Mar, where he has 10 horses stabled. “It’s kind of a no-brainer to run. It’s dirt, a stakes, and she’s coming off a win.”

Papaslilprincess has the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the field, an 87 from that July 4 allowance race.

“She’s sharp, and we hope she can run a big race while catching some of these not on their best day,” Mathis said. “It’s a neutral place to run. When you go to the fairs, there are so many variables: shipping, surface, heat. That’s one of the reasons we really like her. She shipped and handled everything very well at Pleasanton.”

KEY CONTENDERS

UNUSUAL WAY (Last 3 Beyers: 79-71-93)

◗ The multiple stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed earner of $712,010 makes her second start after a two-month layoff.

◗ She will prefer more distance than the six furlongs she ran when second in the Oak Tree Distaff in her last start June 28. She has a win, two seconds, and a third in four stakes starts at the distance.

◗ The filly has a half-mile bullet work since last her start.

SCARLET STRIKE (Last 3 Beyers: 72-77-77)

◗ She ran third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet at the distance as a 2-year-old and has hit the board in four of five starts – with no wins – at the distance.

◗ Scarlet Strike’s entry has the look of a barn seeking a confidence-builder for a filly who has been no threat this year.

TOP KISSER (Last 3 Beyers: 75-79-93)

◗ She looked good in winning a sprint stakes while pulling clear from Marks Mine in her debut on dirt April 26, then ran third, behind Unusual Way, in her most recent start, the Oak Tree Distaff.

◗ Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer gets his top rider, Russell Baze, to take the mount instead of stablemate Scarlet Strike.

◗ The mare did win at this distance on turf last year.