Princess Bettina tries to transfer stakes-winning turf form to dirt in Santa Anita Oaks
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The last time Princess Bettina raced on dirt she finished last of 10 in a sprint at Del Mar in September. The loss has largely been forgotten in advance of Princess Bettina’s graded stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.
Princess Bettina has raced exclusively on turf since that September race, beginning with a maiden win going a mile at Santa Anita in October. On March 18, Princess Bettina led throughout the China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile at Santa Anita. The win led owner and breeder Don Dizney and trainer Peter Eurton to enter Princess Bettina in the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles, California’s top prep race for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5.
Dizney and Eurton are banking on the filly’s maturity, a longer distance, and a dirt-based pedigree to aid her chances. Eurton said he hopes racing at two turns is the reason for Princess Bettina’s recent success, rather than the switch to turf.
Princess Bettina is by Will Take Charge, a multiple graded stakes winner on dirt, and is out of Aiden’s Girl, an unraced mare whose dam, Aidan, was a maiden race winner on dirt.
“She’s got dirt top and bottom,” Eurton said.
Princess Bettina closed from fifth to finish third in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes on turf Feb. 12, and Eurton is banking on that type of patient trip to help the filly’s chances in the Santa Anita Oaks, which may have a spirited pace.
In the China Doll, Princess Bettina led through a slow pace.
“I want to see where she is comfortable,” Eurton said. “We never planned on going to the lead in that race. They gave it to us and she took it.”
Frankie Dettori rode Princess Bettina for the first time in the China Doll Stakes and has the mount in the Santa Anita Oaks.
The race is expected to be led by Faiza and And Tell Me Nolies, the first two finishers in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 5 at Santa Anita.
There is little to lose in trying Princess Bettina in the Santa Anita Oaks, Eurton said. There are ample turf stakes for 3-year-olds fillies in Southern California throughout the year, and Eurton said she can always go back to that surface.
Eurton’s stable did not have a Southern California stakes winner between Storm the Court’s surprise win in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita and Princess Bettina’s win in the China Doll. He won stakes at Remington Park and Sunland Park in that span.
“It was pretty lean,” Eurton said. “This year is more interesting.”
Last Sunday, the Eurton-trained Exaulted won the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile to remain unbeaten in three starts on turf. Exaulted won allowance races on turf in January and February. He is owned by Lee and Susan Searing.
Exaulted, 6, will run next in the Grade 1, $500,000 Shoemaker Mile on turf on May 29, Eurton said. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
“We can keep him fresh,” Eurton said. “He had three strong races here.”
The Santa Anita Oaks will be part of the 20-cent Rainbow Pick Six, which will have a mandatory payout on Saturday. Track officials are projecting a pool in excess of $3 million.
The bet has a carryover of $362,841 for Friday’s program.
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