OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Flying P Stable, R.A. Hill Stable, and trainer Danny Gargan’s graded stakes-placed stakes winner Ice Princess is steadily working towards her first start since a second in the Bay Ridge on December 30 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
A gray daughter of Palace Malice, Ice Princess has been the bridesmaid in each of her past three stakes attempts, including the Empire Distaff and John Hettinger at Belmont Park going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt and nine furlongs on the turf, respectively.
The 5-year-old mare has been a reliable runner for her connections, boasting a record of 4-7-1 from 17 starts with earnings of $403,019. Her best effort at the graded level was a second to Mrs. Danvers in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Comley in 2020, finishing four lengths the better of next-out winner and multiple graded stakes-placed mare Thankful.
Ice Princess’ lone stakes victory came as a juvenile going a one-turn mile in Aqueduct’s Maddie May where she closed from off the pace in fourth to take charge at the top of the lane and drive home to a 2 1/2 length victory. Gargan said that though she is a stakes winner at a mile, Ice Princess would prefer to go a touch longer.
“She’s doing really well,” said Gargan. “A mile isn’t really her distance. Going a mile and an eighth or a mile and a sixteenth at two turns is what she prefers. We’ll see how she turns out. We’ll try to find a spot for her. Everything is going well.”
Ice Princess worked a half-mile in 49.43 over Belmont’s dirt training track on February 3, the fifth-fastest of 72 works that day for the distance.
A $75,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred Sale of New York-Bred Yearlings, Ice Princess is out of the multiple stakes-placed mare Happy Clapper, a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Ice Festival.
Photo: Ice Princess winning the Maddie May under Manny Franco at Aqueduct Feb. 23, 2020 and earning black type. (Else Loreiul)
Aqueduct Racetrack Week 10 stakes probables
Saturday, February 19
$100K Hollie Hughes (NYB)
Probable: My Boy Tate (Michelle Nevin), South Africa (George Weaver), Wudda U Think Now (Rudy Rodriguez)
Possible: More Graytful (Ray Handal), Our Man Mike (Horacio De Paz)
Monday, February 21
$100K Maddie May (NYB)
Probable: Captainsdaughter (Russell Cash), Caragate (Mitchell Friedman), Moam (Horacio De Paz), Reigning Chick (Orlando Noda), Stone Creator (Charlton Baker)
Possible: Yo Cuz (Bill Mott)
NYRA Press Release
