Princess Grace can surpass $1 million mark with win in Goldikova Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Princess Grace has been to Parx Racing, Del Mar, and Kentucky Downs this year, collecting a stakes win at each venue. Those three wins in three time zones have left Princess Grace within reach of $1 million in career earnings, a milestone she will hit if she wins Saturday’s Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares at Del Mar.

The $300,000 Goldikova has a first-place purse of $180,000. Princess Grace has won 6 of 7 starts – including her last four – and earned $886,860.

The highlight of her year was a win in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Aug. 7 at Del Mar. Princess Grace closed from fifth of nine to win by 1 1/4 lengths under jockey Kent Desormeaux, who has the mount in the Goldikova. Princess Grace earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 102 in that race.

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Owned by Susan and John Moore and trained by Michael Stidham, Princess Grace might be a slight favorite in a field of nine fillies and mares in the Goldikova, which is run prior to the Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday at Del Mar.

Princess Grace won the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes at a mile on Sept. 11 in her latest start. She was entered in the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes on Oct. 9 at Keeneland, but was withdrawn when rain left the course in good condition.

“That was the main reason we didn’t want to run at Keeneland,” Stidham said.

The Goldikova could be the first of a two-race journey to Del Mar for Princess Grace. Stidham said the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf on Nov. 28 is another possibility for Princess Grace, a 4-year-old by Karakontie.

The Goldikova field includes five other stakes winners – Constantia, Going Global, Ippodamia’s Girl, Warren’s Showtime, and Zofelle. Warren’s Showtime is under consideration for Sunday’s $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for statebred fillies and mares.

The Goldikova will be the first start against older fillies and mares for Going Global, the leading 3-year-old filly on turf in California this year. A five-time stakes winner, Going Global has not started since a win in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 21.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said the Goldikova was chosen for Going Global over the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Oct. 30 at Santa Anita because of better timing leading to the Grade 1 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

“The Autumn Miss was a week earlier and I thought she needed one more drill,” D’Amato said. “We thought this was the best spot. It will give us an idea of how she fits with older horses.”

On Oct. 31, Going Global worked five furlongs on turf in 1:01.80 in company with Luck, who was second in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

“They breezed head and head,” D’Amato said.