Valid Pulpit takes Princess S.

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Trainer Steve Asmussen continued his dominance at Sunland Park Friday afternoon, winning the six-furlong, $50,000-added Princess S. with Valid Pulpit. After bumping at the start with Manzotti Queen, jockey Garrett Gomez elected to take his mount back and settle, then mounted a five-wide rally on the turn. Valid Pulpit caught front-runner Miss Trixie in midstretch and dueled her to the finish, winning by a nose in the end.

Valid Pulpit, a daughter of Pulpit who was purchased for $125,000 at the Keeneland September Sales of 2001, earned $32,670, bringing her career total to $82,140 in nine starts. She returned $3.80 and gave Gomez, who is taking a working vacation from his Southern California base, four wins on the day. Valid Pulpit covered the six furlongs in 1:11.54.