Stakes winner Princess Karen to stick to sprinting

CYPRESS, Calif. – Princess Karen, the winner of the $75,000 Beverly Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Los Alamitos on Saturday, has found her niche in one-turn races.

After Saturday’s win, trainer Jeff Bonde said he has no plans to try Princess Karen in longer races. The memory of a seventh-place finish behind Paradise Woods in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles in April is fresh in his mind.

“I think her best distance is between six and seven furlongs,” Bonde said. “I tried her long and was disappointed.”

In the Beverly Lewis Stakes, Princess Karen ($14) led throughout to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Faypien, the 3-5 favorite who was second in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 5. Desormeaux rode Princess Karen, giving him a sweep of the two stakes at Los Alamitos on Saturday.

Princess Karen was fifth behind Faypien in the Angels Flight Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita in May when ridden by Mike Smith. Princess Karen did not race again until the Lewis Stakes.

“Last time I ran her, she acted like she was knocked out,” Bonde said on Saturday. “Mike said, ‘You may want to give her a little break.’ ”

Princess Karen has won 3 of 6 starts for Bonde, Karen Norton, and Edward Brown Jr. By Stay Thirsty, Princess Karen has earned $120,705.