Princess of Sylmar can avenge 2014 losses in Personal Ensign
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Princess of Sylmar will have the opportunity to avenge each of her two losses this season when she meets Close Hatches and Belle Gallantey in Friday’s $500,000 Personal Ensign at Saratoga.
A field of seven was drawn Monday for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, and the group also includes Antipathy, Majestic River, Fiftyshadesofhay, and Stanwyck. The two favorites will break next to each other on the far outside, with Close Hatches in post 6 and Princess of Sylmar in post 7.
Princess of Sylmar, who was beaten a head by Close Hatches in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps and 2 3/4 lengths by Belle Gallantey in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap, will wear blinkers for the first time in the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign. Trainer Todd Pletcher said that even when galloping, Princess of Sylmar has a tendency to get distracted and lose her focus, and after working her with blinkers, he feels confident the equipment change will alleviate that situation.
Belle Gallantey has come from humble beginnings to join Princess of Sylmar and Close Hatches as a Grade 1 winner, doing so in her 41st start by virtue of her victory in the Delaware Handicap. Belle Gallantey was claimed for $35,000 by trainer Rudy Rodriguez out of her 2013 finale at Aqueduct on Dec. 19. It was the fifth time the 5-year-old daughter of After Market had changed hands via the claim box during her career.
“We’re shooting for the stars, but we’ve already got one, and hopefully we can get another,” said Rodriguez. “She’s a very honest filly. She always tries, and she’s training very well. Maybe they’ll let her walk on the lead in 50 [seconds], like they did in Delaware. You never know.”
Rodriguez said he merely hoped to win a couple of allowance races last winter at Aqueduct when he haltered Belle Gallantey for what turned out to be a bargain price.
“We knew she could go long on the inner track – that’s basically why we took her,” said Rodriguez. “She loves two turns, but we never dreamed of anything like this happening.”
Michael Caruso, a part owner in Belle Gallantey, said that after winning the Delaware Handicap with the former claimer, “it’s all gravy from here. But maybe we can get a little meatloaf to go with that gravy on Friday.”