Princess Rooney attractive spot for Estilo Talentoso, but first she has to get there

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Estilo Talentoso has come a long way since finishing second debuting under a $16,000 claiming tag at Tampa Bay Downs in January 2020. Now getting her a long way – from Delaware Park to Gulfstream Park –in proper order is the key to whether Estilo Talentoso will run in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney Invitational on July 3 at Gulfstream Park.

With Tex Sutton Air Transport still grounded due to a leasing issue, her owners are looking into securing a flight to South Florida for Estilo Talentoso. Trainer Juan Arriagada said the Princess Rooney “is the perfect race” for his steadily improving 4-year-old filly.

Estilo Talentoso is coming off a game neck victory over Lake Avenue in the Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses at Belmont over a sloppy track on June 4. In her two previous starts, she finished third behind Gamine in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill and second, beaten less than a length by Kimari, in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland.

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“We are really interested in running in the Princess Rooney,” Arriagada said Wednesday. “She came out of her last race well. I told the owners we can go, but I’d really like to fly her down there. It’s very hot in Miami right now, and even though she is an excellent shipper, being on a trailer for 21 hours is a little too much. I’m waiting on a call from the owners now regarding shipping arrangements.”

Estilo Talentoso is no stranger to Gulfstream Park, having won her maiden here going one mile over a sloppy track in her sixth start. She also won a stakes for the first time when she captured the one-mile Escena, an overnight event, in her 3-year-old finale here last summer.

Arriagada said he and the owners were thinking of taking Estilo Talentoso to Saratoga for the Honorable Miss, “but the owners believe the field in Florida should be a little lighter than what we’d face at Saratoga.”

“And she’s already got experience and has won a couple of times over [the Gulfstream] track,” he said.

Javier Castellano has been aboard Estilo Talentoso in her last two starts, but Arriagada said that if he cannot come to Gulfstream for the Princess Rooney, Edgard Zayas would have the mount.

“Edgard knows the track, being a regular there all year round, and he knows this filly, having ridden her to her first stakes victory last year at Gulfstream,” Arriagada said.

Estilo Talentoso, who is scheduled to breeze this weekend, is one of 14 fillies and mares who have been invited to the seven-furlong Princess Rooney. The list also includes Kimari along with Grade 1 winners Ce Ce and Bell’s the One, all of whom could face similar shipping issues.

The Princess Rooney is the headliner on the Summit of Speed card, which also includes the Grade 3 Smile Invitational.