The Princess Rooney will command attention at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, with the 40th running of the prestigious Grade 3 contest bringing together a competitive field of fillies and mares over seven furlongs. Carrying a $225,000 prize, the Princess Rooney will also serve as a significant stepping stone towards the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), which will take place at Keeneland on October 31. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will arrive with three contenders as he seeks to extend his extraordinary sequence in the race to four consecutive victories.
Joseph will bring a formidable recent record into the Princess Rooney. Three Witches will have given him his first victory in the race in 2023, followed by Soul of an Angel in 2024 and Haulin Ice in 2025. Soul of an Angel will subsequently have added further distinction to that achievement by capturing the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and earning an Eclipse Award championship. Joseph will now attempt to prolong that remarkable association with Kerry’s Kiss, Indy Bay and Anakarina.
Kerry’s Kiss will spearhead Joseph’s challenge and will arrive with a progressive record over a variety of distances. The four-year-old daughter of Vino Rosso will represent Epic Horses LLC, BAG Racing Stables LLC and The White House Stables LLC. She will enter the Princess Rooney after victories in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance at Oaklawn Park on April 18, the Musical Romance Stakes over 6½ furlongs on June 22 and the Sheer Drama Stakes over seven furlongs on August 15. Edwin Gonzalez will take the ride, while blinkers will remain an important part of her equipment following their introduction for her latest victory.
Indy Bay will provide Joseph with another accomplished contender. The four-year-old daughter of Take Charge Indy, owned by Agave Racing Stable and Miller Racing LLC, will bring graded-stakes credentials after winning the Charles Town Oaks (G2) over seven furlongs last year. Her recent encounters with Kerry’s Kiss will add another compelling dimension to the Princess Rooney, as she will arrive after finishing runner-up to her stablemate in both the Musical Romance and Sheer Drama Stakes. Micah Husbands will partner Indy Bay as she attempts to reverse that recent pattern.
Anakarina will complete Joseph’s three-horse challenge. The four-year-old daughter of Vekoma, owned by Miller Racing LLC, will enter the Princess Rooney following a front-running victory in the six-furlong Love Sign Stakes at Colonial Downs. Her ability to stretch that speed over seven furlongs will remain one of the central questions surrounding her participation. Joseph will have identified the extra furlong as a possible test of her stamina, making the manner in which she settles and finishes particularly significant. Rasheed Hughes will take the mount.
Simply Joking will bring a substantial body of graded-stakes form to the Princess Rooney for trainer Michael McCarthy. The four-year-old daughter of Practical Joke will represent Berkels0813 LLC, CMNWLTH LLC, Grantley Acres and Ryan Connor. She will arrive following a commanding 6¾-length victory in the Santa Maria (G3) over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on April 19, followed by a second-place finish in the Santa Margarita (G2) and a third-place finish in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar on August 1. She will also carry previous seven-furlong experience from her third-place finish in the La Brea (G1) last year. Juan Hernandez will take his first ride aboard Simply Joking.
No Bad Beats will add further depth to the Princess Rooney field. Trained by Leonard Powell, she will make her first start for the stable after arriving following a 3¾-length allowance victory over 6½ furlongs at Del Mar on August 9. She will have previously finished second in the Las Flores Stakes (G3) and sixth in the D. Wayne Lukas Stakes (G2), giving her valuable experience against accomplished sprinting opposition. Diego Herrera will take the ride.
Bombacha Veloz will bring an international dimension to the Princess Rooney. The multiple Group 1 winner from Chile will make her United States debut for trainer Amador Sanchez, with Rajiv Maragh booked to ride. Just a Philly will also enter the contest after finishing third behind Kerry’s Kiss in both the Musical Romance and Sheer Drama Stakes. The four-year-old daughter of Girvin will represent trainer Herbert Miller, with Samy Camacho aboard.
Saturday’s Gulfstream Park programme will also include the $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint and the $100,000 Ginger Punch Handicap, adding further quality to the card. The Princess Rooney, however, will remain its principal attraction, with Joseph’s bid for a fourth straight victory adding historical significance to a contest already carrying Breeders’ Cup implications. With proven graded-stakes performers, emerging contenders and an international challenger converging over seven furlongs, the 40th edition will promise a compelling examination of speed, stamina and tactical judgement.
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