LEXINGTON, Ky.— Susan and John Moore’s homebred Princess Grace has made one start at Keeneland in her 13-race career, and it was a memorable one for trainer Mike Stidham.
In her stakes debut and third career start, Princess Grace finished second in the Pin Oak Valley View (G3) in 2020.
“She looked like she was home free and got nailed right at the wire,” Stidham said. “After the race, I was like ‘Oh wow; she’s pretty nice.’ ”
And pretty nice Princess Grace has been in earning more than $1.3 million with two Grade 2 victories and three Grade 3 triumphs. In her past two starts, she has been runner-up to Dalika (GER) in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3) and the Beverly D. (G1) at Churchill Downs.
In Saturday’s First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare, Princess Grace will be facing a three-pronged gauntlet of runners from the barn of Chad Brown, including likely favorite Regal Glory in the 1-mile turf test. Princess Grace finished third behind Regal Glory in last fall’s Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar.
Regardless of how she fares Saturday, a Breeders’ Cup date is not in her future.
“Probably not the Breeders’ Cup,” Stidham said. “There is no race for fillies and mares at her distance, and we would have to run against the boys (in the Mile) and we don’t want to do that.”
As possible alternatives to the Breeders’ Cup, Stidham mentioned the $350,000 Fall Harvest Presented by Mint Gaming Hall on the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup program and the $400,000 Matriarch Dec. 4.
Keeneland Press Release
Photo: Princess Grace following her victorious effort in the 2021 edition of the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (Ernie Belmonte)
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