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Princess of Sylmar returns in Cat Cay
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| Princess of Sylmar will cut
back to a one-turn mile in the Cat Cay
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
After recording consecutive Grade 1 wins in the Kentucky Oaks, CCA Oaks,
Alabama and Beldame, Princess of Sylmar failed to deliver her best in the
Breeders' Cup Distaff, losing the three-year-old filly Eclipse Award to Beholder
when finishing last of six runners at Santa Anita. The talented
Pennsylvania-bred will attempt to put that uncharacteristic performance behind
her when she returns to action in Sunday's $100,000
Cat Cay at
Aqueduct.
Princess of Sylmar never received much of a freshening during her brilliant
campaign last year. The daughter of Majestic Warrior raced consistently over the
winter, making starts in October, November, December, January and February, and
recorded a couple of listed stakes victories on the inner track at Aqueduct
before finishing second to Close Hatches in her graded debut, the Grade 2
Gazelle last April.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Princess of Sylmar broke through with a 38-1 upset
in the Kentucky Oaks and proved to be no fluke when dominating Grade 1 rivals in
her next three outings in New York. Her connections elected to supplement her to
the Breeders' Cup following a comfortable two-length score over multiple
champion Royal Delta in the Beldame, but the chestnut was arguably over the top
by the time she arrived out west.
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With the benefit of a five-month vacation, Princess of Sylmar makes her
much-anticipated 2014 debut against five rivals in the one-mile Cat Cay. The
race serves as a prep for her main early-season target, the Grade 1, $1 million
Ogden Phipps on June 7. She is expected to meet Beholder once again in that race
on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
Princess of Sylmar will break from post 3 with regular rider Javier
Castellano.
Wedding Toast, last seen winning the Grade 3 Comely in late November, will
also make her four-year-old bow in the Cat Cay. Conditioned by Kiaran
McLaughlin, the once-beaten dark bay brings a four-race win skein into the race,
sustaining her only setback when second in her career debut last June. Jose
Lezcano has the mount on the Street Sense filly.
Stakes winner Flash Forward exits a third in the Grade 2 Top Flight and will
make her third start of the season for Dominick Schettino. Jose Ortiz rides the
four-year-old. Villete invades from Parx with a three-race win streak in tow,
and multiple stakes queen Montana Native exits a third in the March 15 Wayward
Lass at Tampa Bay Downs. Maiden winner Highestmaintenance completes the field.
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