Princeville Condo consistently solid on turf

The 4-year-old Illinois-bred turf horse Princeville Condo never runs poorly, and now he is 1 for 1 in stakes competition after capturing the $60,000 by a head on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Princeville Condo now has 6 wins, 3 seconds, and a third from 10 career starts, all on grass. Still eligible for Illinois-bred entry-level allowance races at the start of his 2009 campaign, Princeville Condo has progressed steadily through the year, moving from Illinois-bred allowance contests into open allowance races. With his win in a third-level allowance last month at Churchill Downs, Princeville Condo had for the most part exhausted his allowance conditions, but with Saturday's victory, he showed he at least can be a player in minor turf stakes.

Princeville Condo has been developed since 2008 by trainer Michelle Boyce, who owns a piece of the horse, too. Boyce, however, stays in Chicago for the winter, so Princeville Condo was transferred to trainer Greg Geier in New Orleans, and it was Geier who saddled the 4-year-old colt to victory Saturday.

Torres bided his time in the back third of an 11-horse field as Swains News and Wise River disputed fractions of 24.81 seconds to the opening quarter-mile, and 50.48 to the half. On a turf course rated good that plays slow most of the time anyway, that pace was honest enough, and Princeville Condo got involved past the three-eighths pole and into the stretch. Torres kept him wide - on what might have been the best part of the course - and despite failing to change leads, Princeville Condo sailed past the leaders and took over past the eighth pole. Pix Six made a belated bid out of last, but his late rally fell short. Swains News held third over Baltimore Bob, who was taken to the rail at the top of the stretch.

Princeville Condo, a Morluc gelding owned by Bar Three LLC and Cherrywood Racing, paid $16.80 to win, and was timed in 1:47.95 for 1 1/16 miles.