Princess Grace needs a target – not to wear one – in Matriarch

Princess Grace was not expected to set the pace in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Making her eighth start, Princess Grace was in front early for the first time in her career in the Goldikova. She ended up third as the 11-10 favorite.

Sunday, a similar scenario could occur in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar, even though Princess Grace’s trainer, Mike Stidham, would appreciate if one of the other five runners took an early lead.

The problem is there is not a clear candidate capable of outrunning Princess Grace early.

“Obviously, we’re looking for someone to go for the lead other than us,” Stidham said Friday. “That’s the game plan. The instructions will be to take a little hold and let someone drop over, and be sitting in a stalking spot.

“We didn’t want it last time. All we can do is break and see how it plays out. Right now, our intention is to not go to the lead.”

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Princess Grace, a winner of 6 of 8 starts owned and bred by John and Susan Moore, will start from the rail in the $400,000 Matriarch Stakes. Kent Desormeaux has the mount on Princess Grace, a filly he knows well. Desormeaux was aboard Princess Grace for the Goldikova and for a win in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar in August.

Earlier this year, Princess Grace won three stakes from off the pace.

The Matriarch is the leading race on Sunday’s final program of the month-long Del Mar autumn meeting. Los Alamitos begins a two-week December meeting Friday.

Sunday’s program at Del Mar includes a mandatory payout of the 20-cent jackpot pick six, which covers the fourth through ninth races.

Princess Grace is one of three Matriarch runners with graded stakes wins this year in the United States.

Viadera, who won the 2020 Matriarch, won the Grade 2 Ballston Spa Stakes for fillies and mares at Saratoga in August and was sixth after a wide trip in the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes on Oct. 9 at Keeneland.

Zofelle won the Grade 3 Marshua’s River Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January, but is winless in her last four starts. Zofelle was second to Going Global in the Goldikova. Going Global was not entered in the Matriarch in favor of a start in the Grade 1 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

The other runners in the Matriarch are Bodhicitta, who was fifth in the Goldikova; Fast Jet Court, a Group 3 winner in Brazil in March who is winless in three starts in California; and Regal Glory, who was second in the First Lady.

Viadera and Regal Glory are trained by Chad Brown, who has won three of the last four runnings of the Matriarch. Brown said Friday that the Matriarch could be the final start for Viadera and Regal Glory before retirement.

“They’ve been good horses for us,” Brown said.

Regal Glory, a winner of 8 of 15 starts, was a game second by a half-length at 5-1 to Blowout in the First Lady. Owned by Peter Brant, Regal Glory has won seven stakes.

Regal Glory, who will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, drew the outside post in the Matriarch.

Viadera was beaten 4 1/4 lengths at 14-1 in the First Lady in her third start of the year, closing from 11th with a wide trip. Viadera was a troubled fourth behind Regal Glory in the restricted De La Rose Stakes on Aug. 8 at Saratoga in her first start of 2021 before winning the Ballston Spa as the 4-5 favorite three weeks later.

“Viadera has been frustrating this year,” Brown said. “She took a little extra time to get herself together. It hasn’t gone the way we hoped.

“The desire and ability is still there. She’s been a bit unlucky in that a few of her trips have been disastrous.”

Viadera was part of a field of 12 in the First Lady. With a much smaller field in the Matriarch, she is likely to be in a stalking position in a race lacking a confirmed front-runner.