Princess of Sylmar - HOY?
Sept 29, 2013 14:39:10 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Sept 29, 2013 14:39:10 GMT -5
Looking at Princess of Sylmar's candidacy for Horse of the Year
By MIKE VEITCH
The Saratogian
Published: Sunday, September 29, 2013
Should we consider Princess of Sylmar as one of the contenders for Horse of the Year?
The 3-year-old filly, winner of the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga in her last start, was the star of Super Saturday at Belmont Park, winning her fourth consecutive Grade 1 race in the Beldame Invitational Stakes.
In doing so, she handily defeated reigning two-time Eclipse champion Royal Delta in a powerful performance in the prestigious Beldame.
When 5-year-old Royal Delta cruised to the lead heading into the far turn, she looked on the way to her third consecutive Grade 1 win, her last coming in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga.
But Princess of Sylmar was stalking to her outside, and when she joined Royal Delta in the stretch, the Alabama winner drew off to win by two lengths in a sparkling 1:47 4/5 for 1 1/8 miles.
Royal Delta, favored at 1-to-5, had no answer for her younger rival in the final sixteenth of a mile.
Princess of Sylmar locked up her title as 3-year-old filly champion in the Beldame, defeating older rivals in her first such encounter.
Princess of Sylmar has now captured the Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks, Alabama and Beldame in succession.
Prior to that streak, she won the Busanda and Busher stakes on the winterized inner dirt track at Aqueduct.
You know, that track in Queens that so many racing people and politicians would like to close, yet has hosted champions like Xtra Heat, Smarty Jones, Saint Liam, Maryfield, Left Bank and Fleet Indian in just the last few years
Trainer Todd Pletcher elected to challenge Royal Delta in the $400,000 Beldame, passing instead the far richer $1 million Cotillion against 3-year-olds last week at Parx Racing.
He and owner King of Prussia Stable took the traditional, albeit tougher, route in the Beldame, and it paid off with at least one certain Eclipse Award.
And who knows, perhaps in a few weeks Princess of Sylmar really will be in contention for the nation’s top honor as best horse.
By the way, the last Alabama winner to be named America’s best horse was none other than Beldame in 1904.
By MIKE VEITCH
The Saratogian
Published: Sunday, September 29, 2013
Should we consider Princess of Sylmar as one of the contenders for Horse of the Year?
The 3-year-old filly, winner of the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga in her last start, was the star of Super Saturday at Belmont Park, winning her fourth consecutive Grade 1 race in the Beldame Invitational Stakes.
In doing so, she handily defeated reigning two-time Eclipse champion Royal Delta in a powerful performance in the prestigious Beldame.
When 5-year-old Royal Delta cruised to the lead heading into the far turn, she looked on the way to her third consecutive Grade 1 win, her last coming in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga.
But Princess of Sylmar was stalking to her outside, and when she joined Royal Delta in the stretch, the Alabama winner drew off to win by two lengths in a sparkling 1:47 4/5 for 1 1/8 miles.
Royal Delta, favored at 1-to-5, had no answer for her younger rival in the final sixteenth of a mile.
Princess of Sylmar locked up her title as 3-year-old filly champion in the Beldame, defeating older rivals in her first such encounter.
Princess of Sylmar has now captured the Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks, Alabama and Beldame in succession.
Prior to that streak, she won the Busanda and Busher stakes on the winterized inner dirt track at Aqueduct.
You know, that track in Queens that so many racing people and politicians would like to close, yet has hosted champions like Xtra Heat, Smarty Jones, Saint Liam, Maryfield, Left Bank and Fleet Indian in just the last few years
Trainer Todd Pletcher elected to challenge Royal Delta in the $400,000 Beldame, passing instead the far richer $1 million Cotillion against 3-year-olds last week at Parx Racing.
He and owner King of Prussia Stable took the traditional, albeit tougher, route in the Beldame, and it paid off with at least one certain Eclipse Award.
And who knows, perhaps in a few weeks Princess of Sylmar really will be in contention for the nation’s top honor as best horse.
By the way, the last Alabama winner to be named America’s best horse was none other than Beldame in 1904.
thank god we don't have that kindergarten crap here!)
