Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint cozy spot for Apache Princess

ARCADIA, Calif. – In her last six starts in sprints, Apache Princess has won three times and finished second three times. In her last six starts in races around two turns, Apache Princess is winless, with a second in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at a mile last summer at Del Mar as her best effort.

Apache Princess, now 4, was fifth in the Grade 1 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf on Dec. 28 at Santa Anita. Saturday, after a relatively quick turnaround, Apache Princess takes a significant class drop for the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint for California-breds at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“I do think one turn is what she was probably built for,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said. “She’s confident every time she sprints.”

Owned by breeder Kevin and Kim Nish’s KMN Racing, Apache Princess was second in the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf here in November, finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind Just Grazed Me, the expected favorite in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint.

In the American Oaks, Apache Princess was third after a mile but faded to finish 4 1/2 lengths behind winner Lady Prancealot.

“It was probably too much for her,” Desormeaux said. “She ran a bang-up race. She gave it a 100 percent effort.”

The Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint is one of five stakes on Saturday’s program, all for statebreds.

The $200,000 California Cup Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf includes Cholula Lips, who won the Soviet Problem Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at a mile on dirt at Los Alamitos last month. She was considered for Saturday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby against males at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

“We decided to go on the grass,” trainer Mike Harrington said. “The boys’ race looks tougher.”

Cholula Lips will race against Warren’s Showtime, winner of the Surfer Girl Stakes against open company at a mile on turf here Oct. 6, a race in which Cholula Lips was fifth.

Club Aspen, winner of the King Glorious Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at a mile at Los Alamitos last month, is a top contender for the California Cup Derby.

The main race for older horses is the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles, which includes The Hunted, who won the Crystal Water Stakes at a mile on turf for California-breds here last April.

The $150,000 California Cup Sprint at six furlongs will be the Southern California debut for Baja Sur, a four-time stakes winner at Emerald Downs and Golden Gate Fields.