Princessof the Nyl brings her talents to Irish Day Stakes

Trainer Mike Puhich is pleased with how Princessof the Nyl has settled in at Emerald Downs and has decided to let her make her West Coast debut Sunday in the $50,000 Irish Day Stakes. She could end up being favored in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.

It is a homecoming of sorts for Princessof the Nyl. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Pioneerof the Nile was purchased in 2017 by Mike Waters out of a sale at the Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation Center in Redmond, Wash.

“After we bought her we sent her to Jack Van Berg and his son Tom,” Puhich said. “Mike was keen to bring her back to race her at Emerald, and after Jack died it seemed like the timing was right. She arrived here last week. We were on the fence about running her in the Irish Day, but she handled the ship beautifully, and she has really thrived at the track.”

In her last start, Princessof the Nyl finished fourth in a first-level allowance race June 8 at Churchill Downs . The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares was won by the 4-year-old Summer Luck. As a 3-year-old, the Mark Casse-trained Summer Luck was good enough to finish third in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park. She also finished third in her first try on grass in the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill and second in the $200,000 Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs.

Princessof the Nyl’s lone win came in a one-mile maiden special weight race March 16 at Oaklawn Park.

“She’s been running against some tough horses, and the good thing about her is that we know she can go a distance of ground,” Puhich said.

Puhich was pleased with how she breezed an easy half-mile in 48.80 seconds with Kevin Orozco aboard Monday. Orozco will ride her in the Irish Day.

Riser’s DQ disappoints trainer

Trainer Blaine Wright disagreed with the stewards’ decision to disqualify Riser from first to last in the $50,000 Budweiser last Sunday.

Riser cruised to a 2 3/4-length front-running victory over Dedicated to You in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up. However, he veered out at the start and bumped Barkley, who never really got into the race.

“I was very disappointed in the ruling,” Wright said. “They said it cost Barkley a chance at a better placing, but he never picked the bridle up. The only positive is [Riser] thinks he won the race and is still full of himself.”

◗ Friday’s feature is a $2,500 starter race, and Calex will be trying to win for the 15th time. The one-mile race drew seven horses and goes as race 3 on the seven-race program, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Pacific. There is a $6,316 carryover on the Jackpot Pick 7, which begins on the second race.