Princessof the Nyl may go in Emerald Distaff

Trainer Mike Puhich reported that Princessof the Nyl came out of her runaway victory Sunday over Diamonds R in the $50,000 Washington Oaks in good shape and could make her next start against older fillies and mares in the $50,000 Emerald Distaff on Aug. 12. The Distaff is one of three supporting stakes for the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile.

The 1 1/8-mile Oaks unfolded according to script and, after trailing early, Princessof the Nyl blew the field away. The final margin was eight lengths, and it could have been more if Kevin Orozco had pushed her in the final sixteenth.

“On paper it looked like there would be a fast pace and they set her up nicely,” said Puhich.

They did indeed. The half-mile time posted by Ca Dreamer was an unsustainable 45.02 seconds. Princessof the Nyl appeared to be moving on her own when she reached contention on the stretch turn, and the race was pretty much over when she overtook Bella Mia turning for home.

In her first start for Puhich, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Pioneerof the Nile finished a fast-closing third in the $50,000 Irish Day Stakes on July 1. She went into the Irish Day off a fourth-place finish in a first-level allowance race at Churchill Downs on June 8. She is owned by Mike Waters, who races as Muddy Waters Stables.

“She was a bit sharper for the Oaks,” said Puhich. “She arrived shortly before the Irish Day and she had more time to adjust to her new surroundings going into the Oaks. It was a big win for Mike. His main objective for her this year was the Oaks. It’s nice when you have a race you can plan for and then have everything fall into place.”

With the objective reached, Puhich wasn’t making any definite plans for Princessof the Nyl.

“We’ll let her tell us what she wants to do,” said Puhich. “The Distaff is a possibility. The farther she goes the better, and the mile and an eighth suits her. If she runs well, we’ll look at taking her to Hastings for the Ballerina.”

He was referring to the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina on Oct. 8. There is a $25,000 bonus for sweeping the Distaff and Ballerina.

A couple of $12,500 claiming races share the spotlight at Emerald on Friday’s seven-race card, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Pacific.

Crushin Candy, trained by Manny Ortiz, is the one they have to beat in race 2. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses. Kevin Orozco is named to ride.

Leading rider Rocco Bowen has the call aboard likely favorite Papa Mambo in the sixth race. The six-furlong dash for fillies and mares drew eight horses.

Papa Mambo is coming off back-to-back wins going 6 1/2 furlongs in $10,000 claimers and will be making her first start for trainer Candi Tollett, who claimed her out of her last race on behalf of John Parker.

Papa Mambo could be singled in the pick five, which begins on race 3 with a $13,565 carryover.