Princess Karen wires Beverly Lewis Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. – Princess Karen was a tired filly after she finished fifth in the Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita in May.

A summer-long break changed her career. Princess Karen won her first stakes in Saturday’s $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos, her first start since May. Back then, trainer Jeff Bonde thought Princess Karen was “knocked out.”

She displayed no fatigue in Saturday’s stakes.

Princess Karen ($14) won by 1 1/4 lengths over Faypien, the 3-5 favorite who won the Angels Flight Stakes and was second in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 5.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Princess Karen led throughout, running six furlongs in 1:09.11.

“There was a lot of speed and she naturally has a lot of speed,” Bonde said. “We told Kent, ‘Ride a smart race.' It unfolded the way it did.”

Princess Karen set quick fractions of 21.45 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.56 for a half-mile, leading by a head in early stretch. She held a one-length advantage with a furlong to go.

Faypien was fourth early and rallied between fillies in the final furlong to finish second, a head in front of Chalon, the 3-1 second choice. Faypien had every chance to close the gap on the winner, but failed to do so in the final furlong.

Queen Laila was fourth, followed by Auntjenn and Delitefull Lady.

Desormeaux swept the two $75,000 races at Los Alamitos on Saturday. He won the E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-bred milers earlier on the card with Soi Phet.

Princess Karen, by Stay Thirsty, races for Bonde, Karen Norton, and Edward Brown Jr. Bought for $82,000 at the Barretts Paddock Sale at Del Mar in 2016, Princess Karen has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $120,705.

The Lewis Stakes was her fourth start in a stakes. Her best previous result was a fourth in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes going seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 8.