Robb tests Princess Kokachin's limits in Timonium Distaff, a two-turn sprint
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Princess Kokachin will attempt to stretch her early speed around two turns in Saturday’s $75,000 Timonium Distaff for fillies and mares at about 6 1/2 furlongs.
“I wouldn’t try it at Laurel,” trainer John Robb said about the extra distance, noting that the bullring configuration at Timonium might help Princess Kokachin see out the trip.
Princess Kokachin has captured half of her 24 starts, including a gate-to-wire victory in a high-level allowance going six furlongs on July 1 at Laurel.
Entered in Laurel’s Alma North four weeks later, Princess Kokachin scratched after Robb grew concerned about racing Princess Kokachin in extreme heat without Lasix. All horses will race without Lasix in the Timonium Distaff.
Self Isolation might be the one to beat. A California-bred daughter of Square Eddie, Self Isolation was purchased by owner-trainer David Jacobson for $105,000 last fall. Since then, she has won 5 of 10, including a front-running victory in a six-furlong allowance on Aug. 6 at Laurel.
Self Isolation is proven around two turns, and Jacobson has scored with eight of his last 18 starters in Maryland.
Multiple stakes winner Malibu Beauty finished second in this race last year and might be rounding back into form after chasing pacesetting winner Alva Starr in the Dashing Beauty over a speed-friendly Delaware Park surface on July 8.
The Dashing Beauty was Malibu Beauty’s first start since January. Last summer, she showed vast improvement second time out after long layoff.
Response Time was wired by heavily favored Beguine in the Alma North, but tried hard to finish second in that 6 1/2-furlong event. She previously finished fourth behind Princess Kokachin after breaking slowly and rushing up to prompt the pace in a no-conditions Laurel allowance.
Deco Strong finished behind several of these in 2023 efforts at Laurel and Pimlico, but she has winning experience in two-turn sprints at Charles Town.
Semble Juste ships in from Kentucky for trainer Kenny McPeek and goes turf to dirt in her second start following a long layoff. A stakes winner around two turns on dirt last year at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Semble Juste likely used her last race, a sixth-place finish at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Ellis Park, as a prep.
Quiet Imagination enters fresh after a two-turn sprint victory on April 13 at Charles Town. She finished second to Malibu Beauty in last summer’s Peach Blossom at Delaware.
Volnay is the only entrant with previous winning experience at Timonium. She’s hit the board in her last five, including four two-turn sprints at Charles Town.
Red Pixie has won her last four races over the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs. She’s won on dirt before, but might need a Beyer Speed Figure boost to contend against this level of competition.
Brzina also is entered with Extra Crunchy on the also-eligible list.
Self Isolation is cross-entered for the main track only in Friday’s Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga. As of press time Thursday, The National Weather Service predicted a 71 percent chance for rain at Saratoga on Friday.
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