Thistledown: Just Michel withstands trouble

Just Michel and rider Scott Spieth won a roughly run Brent's Princess Stakes at Thistledown, rallying to defeat Southbound Katie by a half-length. Imahoneytoo, who also had a rough trip, finished third, another 1 1/4 lengths back in the field of nine Ohio-bred fillies and mares.

Just Michel was forced in leaving the chute, dropped inside to be within striking distance, angled four wide for racing room entering the stretch, and rallied once clear to win her third consecutive stakes.

Southbound Katie made the lead from the outside post, and dueled until the top of the stretch.

Imahoneytoo was brushed leaving the chute, went up to get a contending position after a quarter, then had to steady behind horses on the turn. She rallied steadily along the rail once out of traffic.

Just Michel is owned by M.Y. Stables Inc. and trained by Mike Nance. She got the six furlongs in 1:12.04 over the sloppy strip and returned $2.80 as the odds-on choice in the $40,000 Brent's Princess.