Princess of Sylmar on track for Delaware Handicap
ELMONT, N.Y. – Princess of Sylmar remains on target for the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap, trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Thursday.
Princess of Sylmar put together a remarkable campaign last season as a 3-year-old, winning 6 of 8 starts, including the Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks, Alabama Stakes, and Beldame Invitational in succession. She has made two starts this year. She won the Cat Cay overnight stakes at a mile in April, and she closed with a late rush and just missed catching Close Hatches in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on Belmont Stakes Day. The Phipps was run at 1 1/16 miles.
“The Phipps may not have unfolded exactly as we expected,” Pletcher said. “Beholder didn’t get out there as it looked she might. The added distance of the race in Delaware should suit her.”
The $750,000 Delaware will be run July 12 at 1 1/4 miles. In her only start at the distance, Princess of Sylmar won the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga.
Davis to ride in New York
Dylan Davis, the 20-year-old son of former rider Robbie Davis, has returned to New York after riding in Kentucky the past two years. Davis finished seventh in the standings at last fall’s Churchill Downs meet. He was 4 for 62 at the current Churchill stand.
Since beginning his career in 2012, Davis has won 171 races from 1,376 mounts, a 12 percent strike rate, and his mounts have earned 4.1 million.
Mike Kelly has his book.