Rested Precious Feather wins Born Famous

MIAMI, Fla. - Precious Feather showed she'll be a filly to be reckoned with in next month's $400,000 Princess Rooney Handicap when she overcame a six-month hiatus to register a convincing and very impressive three-length victory over Valid Forbes in Sunday's $52,850 Born Famous Handicap at Calder.

Dynamite Diablo, the 8-5 favorite, finished a tiring sixth.

Jockey Rosemeary Homeister Jr. opted to take off Dynamite Diablo to ride Precious Feather and gave the 4-year-old filly a well judged ride. Precious Feather, who bobbled briefly at the start, unleashed a three-wide run to readily overtake the tiring leader in early stretch en route to an easy win. Valid Forbes, the lone 3-year-old in the field who was also making her 2001 debut, raced wide and finished well to be second, a head before Tour Hostess.

Precious Feather, who is trained by Jim Hatchett for the Jacks Or Better Farm, paid $10.00 after covering six furlongs in 1:12.90 over a fast but somewhat dull track..

"I didn't know if she would need a race or not but she was ready," said Hatchett. "We've been strictly pointing for one race and that's the Princess Rooney."

The Princess Rooney, a Grade 3 race, will be run at six furlongs here on July 14.