GII Princess Rooney Handicap (BC)

$250.000 7 Furlong Dirt For Three Year Old and up Fillies & Mares

2016 Champ: T S Devil

It is not often you find a race that every horse in the race has won at least one stake race in the past but that is what the 2017 Princess Rooney Handicap features. Not only have they all won a stake race at some point, they all have a stake win in 2017. This win and your in BC race for the Filly & Mare Sprint in November has drawn a tough field of six girls all looking to show who is an early favorite for that race in November.

1- Drill (Trained by Mb Stables, Ridden by Talamo J)

Drill will look to continue her strong campaign this weekend in the Rooney. She has finished in the top three in all three of her 2017 starts including a win in the $150.000 Heavenly Prize. She will look to get a nice mid pack running position and make a move late. The distance is a worry as it looks like she would prefer to go a little longer then the seven furlongs.

2- Powerful War (Trained by Kopites, Ridden by McMahon C J)

The winner of the GIII Whimsical Stakes in her most recent race is Powerful War. She has run well since her purchase mid March and has a definite shot in here. The added furlong compared to her most recent starts should be something she likes. She will likely break at decent odds and should help the payouts on your exotics.

3- City Bus (Trained by Tiratzo, Ridden by Hernandez J J)

City Bus typically puts forth a good effort and we should expect nothing less from her here. As of late though she looks like she would prefer going longer then seven furlongs so she may struggle to bring home a check this weekend.

4- Silk Houses (Trained by Alydar Stables, Ridden by Stevens G L)

Silk Houses comes into the race off a very nice win at seven furlongs in the GIII Bed o Roses Handicap. This five year old mare is always a threat to win shown by her almost $700.000 in career earnings. She has also shown a love for the seven furlong distance winning multiple times at the distance.

5- Aldonza (Trained by John Henry, Ridden by Ortiz J L)

The high weight in the race will be Aldonza. Coming into the race Aldonza has won all three career starts at seven furlongs on the dirt. Her most recent win being in the GIII Distaff Handicap at AQU in April. She obviously loves the distance and has just as much talent as anyone else in the race. If she runs her race she will be the one to beat.

6- Roxy Lisa (Trained by Canadian Racing, Ridden by Wilson E J)

Coming off a solid ON bred stake win last time out is Roxy Lisa. She is also the only three year old taking on her older counterparts. She is slowly progressing into a top notch stake horse but this is big leap up in competition. In the future she will be one to watch but she may need a race before shes ready to win one of these.

7- Make It Known (Trained by Mb Stables, Ridden by Velazquez J R)

Velazquez is in town this weekend to ride the four year old filly Roxy Lisa. Her most recent start was at a mile and an eighth so it will be interesting to see if she can find the speed to compete at the much shorter distance. Last year she spent a lot of time sprinting so she may welcome the cut back in distance, if she can adjust herself she could run a big one.

My Selections: 5/4/2

Categories: Grade II