The Lead:
Named for the Hall of Fame mare and inaugural 1984 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner, the Princess Rooney Stakes is one of America's most important races in the BC Filly & Mare Sprint division. Past winners like Dream Supreme, Gold Mover and Musical Romance line its history, and more recently include BC Filly & Mare Sprint winner Ce Ce as well as last year's third-place finisher Three Witches.
Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can enjoy up to a $10 money-back special promo on the Princess Rooney Stakes. Get up to $10 back if your win bet finishes second or third in Gulfstream's 10th race on Saturday.
Field Depth:
MARYQUITECONTRARY and SOUL OF AN ANGEL both are Grade 2 winners as well as Grade 1-placed. PACHOLLI was a Group 1 winner in her native Uruguay. Other stakes winners in the lineup include HAULIN ICE, UNSOLVED MYSTERY and BETH'S DREAM. In terms of strength of schedule, it's a solid advantage to SOUL OF AN ANGEL, the class of the field.
Pace:
With 10 sprinters matched up over 7 furlongs, look for early speed from COUSIN KRIST, HAULIN ICE and BETH'S DREAM from the inside/outside posts. IMONRA and UNSOLVED MYSTERY also should be forwardly placed in what looks to be a strong tempo. A late-runner should not be compromised.
Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.
#1-COUSIN KRISTI: New York-bred snapped an 8-race losing streak with a Saratoga state-bred allowance victory August 24. Solid marks in 4 starts at Gulfstream, despite no wins, but her lack of finishing kick will be under pressure late as she stretches out to 7 furlongs for the first time.
#2-IMONRA: First of 3 Saffie Joseph Jr. trainees in the field as he seeks back-to-back wins in this race after Three Witches' score in the '23 Princess Rooney. Made the lead in the Sheer Drama last out but couldn't see out the 7F when fading behind return rivals Beth's Dream and Maryquitecontrary. Series of races in pursuit of common rivals she'll meet again Saturday make her hard to recommend.
#3-HAULIN ICE: Three-year-old steps into the elder stakes ranks for the first time, and it's notable that no sophomore has won the Princess Rooney since 1990. Blowout winner of the Azalea over this track in July over the same distance, and it's excusable that she didn't handle the bullring track in the Charles Town Oaks when the beaten favorite. Expect a bounce-back effort as she was 7-for-7 in the exacta prior to that misfire.
#4-MARYQUITECONTRARY: Late-running local stakes veteran was runner-up by a half-length as favorite in this race a year ago. Her form has soured after multiple trainer changes, winning just 1 of her last 9 after starting her career 6-for-8. Still, she's reliable with honest efforts and will be passing tired horses at a minimum. No match for Beth's Dream in their last 2 at similar trips.
#5-SOUL OF AN ANGEL: Route specialist will try to cut back with success after facing some of the strongest racemares in the country -- Idiomatic, Randomized, Pretty Mischievous, Raging Sea et al. Strongest of the Saffie Joseph Jr. trio in this lineup, her 1-turn mile romp in the Grade 2 Ruffian at Aqueduct (pictured above) gives plenty of hope that she'll be able to quicken as needed over the shorter trip. Note a marvelous 112 BRIS late pace figure in that one, a move that would tackle this bunch if repeated. Winless on the GP main is the principal concern.
#6-UNSOLVED MYSTERY: Colonial Downs allowance winner tries Gulfstream for the first time for high percentage trainer Jorge Delgado. The barn took this one over this year and has just the one start under her belt after a well-traveled career that had seen her previous win come in March of 2022, some 12 starts back. Part of the pace; fitness for 7F and the class rise will be tested.
#7-BATTLE CRY: Wet track and synthetic surface specialist was no match for Beth's Dream and Maryquitecontrary last time out in June. That's her only start of 2024, so it's hard to see this Victor Barboza trainee making a big leap forward unless the track comes up wet. Leonel Reyes won last year's Princess Rooney aboard Three Witches.
#8-GALLOP D'HERMES: Freaked last out at 16-1 in a sloppy track victory and, like Battle Cry, will be doing a rain dance on Saturday for her best chance. Will be surprised if this 3-year-old can sprint with these and become the first soph to win the Princess Rooney in the last 34 years.
#9-PACHOLLI: Uruguayan has won 10 of 17 and makes her first US start for trainer Hernan Parra. It's her second international bid, far back 13th in the Godolphin Mile during the Dubai World Cup card in March and not seen since. Primarily was a 9F-10F performer in her native land, so she'll have to prove she can sprint with these. I'll pass.
#10-BETH'S DREAM: Favored in 10 of her last 12, the local sprint ace has won 6 times in her last 8 starts. Victor Barboza Jr. has kept her in peak form since March and she'll be right into the mix from the outset. She should put away all the other early challenges and will be the target to catch in the final furlong. Hard to knock.
Most Certain Exotics Contender:
BETH'S DREAM is 13 for her last 14 in the trifecta and is reliable over the track and distance.
Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
No big prices projected in the main mix, though BATTLE CRY on a wet track might get a look for a piece.
Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$100 exacta SOUL OF AN ANGEL over BETH'S DREAM.
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