Following every week with eight races as a part of the Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection: Win and You are In, a few of them hosted internationally, only a single qualifier is scheduled this weekend: the Sept. 21 Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) from Gulfstream Park.
Its winner will earn a paid, automated berth into the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Dash (G1), which just like the Princess Rooney, is at seven furlongs on filth. This 12 months’s Breeders’ Cup is at Del Mar in Southern California.
The Princess Rooney, named after the Corridor of Fame filly, is at the moment a grade 3, having been downgraded from its heyday at defunct Calder Race Course when it was contested as a grade 1 from 2006-13 throughout that observe’s standard Summit of Pace program. It moved to Gulfstream Park as a grade 2 in 2015 and remained a grade 2 till final 12 months when the American Graded Stakes Committee dropped it one extra grade after Gulfstream moved it from a summer time date to early October.
When Ce Ce pulled off the Princess Rooney-Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Dash double in 2021, the Michael McCarthy trainee shipped from Southern California to race in Florida in July, then ran third within the Ballerina Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and later received the Chillingworth Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
She adopted the identical schedule in 2022, solely she ran fifth within the Ballerina after taking the Princess Rooney and once more took the Chillingworth. That 12 months, she ran fourth in her profession finale within the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Dash.
Final 12 months’s Princess Rooney winner, late-developing Three Witches , proved aggressive in grade 1 firm the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Dash at Santa Anita, ending third behind Goodnight Olive and Yuugiri .
This 12 months, the Princess Rooney is being contested two weeks sooner than final 12 months, with a subject stuffed largely with Florida-based runners, although some raced within the Northeast in the course of the summer time months.
Saffie Joseph Jr., who received the Princess Rooney final 12 months with Three Witches, takes two probabilities on this 12 months’s race with Imonra  and Soul of an Angel . A 3rd entry, Haulin Ice , won’t run.
C2 Racing Secure and Agave Racing Stables’s Soul of an Angel, exits demanding stakes firm—having confronted the likes of Randomized , Idiomatic , and Raging Sea in her final 4 begins. A longtime router, she sprints seven furlongs for the primary time after operating a well-beaten third within the 1 1/8-mile Private Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Winner of the one-turn Ruffian Stakes (G2) earlier this 12 months at a mile over Randomized, she additionally got here inside a head of champion Idiomatic this summer time within the 1 1/16-mile Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park.
Virginia Gamble’s Beth’s Dream , using a four-race win streak for coach Victor Barboza Jr., is the primary hazard to Soul of an Angel, breaking from the far exterior within the subject of 10.
“Within the Princess Rooney, I’ve two seconds within the race. It is necessary for me, my workforce, the homeowners. It is my dream to win the Princess Rooney,” coach Barboza mentioned.
Presque Isle Masters Has Breeders’ Cup Historical past
Though the Princess Rooney is the one official Breeders’ Cup Problem race this week, one other main dash for fillies and mares has the potential to advance horses towards the Breeders’ Cup—though extra possible the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash (G1T) than the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Dash.
The $300,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) Sept. 20 at Presque Isle Downs at 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta lured a strong subject, however not one of many 9 entrants has a single win on filth. The sphere is comprised of artificial specialists or twin turf and artificial performers.
Some previous Masters winners have skilled Breeders’ Cup success, led by Groupie Doll , who received the Masters in 2012-13 and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Dash on filth those self same years.
Musical Romance received each races in 2011, as did Knowledgeable Resolution in 2009. Nevertheless, the latter’s Breeders’ Cup victory at Santa Anita that fall got here when that Southern California observe had an artificial floor. Musical Romance received on filth on the Breeders’ Cup.
Groupie Doll, Musical Romance, and Knowledgeable Resolution all grew to become divisional Eclipse champions.
Favored at 9-5 on the morning line for Friday’s race is Cheyenne Secure and John O’Meara’s Roses for Debra , who received three races over the Presque Isle floor earlier in her profession earlier than growing right into a graded stakes-winning grass sprinter for coach Christophe Clement. She ran ninth within the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash in opposition to males final 12 months at Santa Anita.
The projected second selection at 5-2 is West Level Thoroughbreds, Chris Larsen, and Titletown Racing Stables’ Gal in a Rush , additionally skilled by Clement. She received the Hendrie Stakes (G3) on Tapeta on the 6 1/2-furlong distance of the Masters two begins in the past at Woodbine.
Roses for Debra and Gal in a Rush are co-high weights at 125 kilos, recognizing their foes between 5-11 kilos.
