July 20, 2016
Former Grade I winners and past champions assembled for the Grade III ONT Matron at WO on Sunday afternoon but it was a minor state-bred stakes winner who stole the show as Princess Legion, made the odds-on choice despite faltering at SA, came through in the last stride to win her fourth race of the year. Unraced at two, she was already six races into her sophomore campaign when she hit the track this weekend and came away with her best effort to date, pushing her bankroll to nearly $250.000 after sitting much closer to the pace than she did in the Summertime Oaks against runner-up True To Form.
True To Form (5.80) broke as she should and went for the early lead but Sweep The Ash (2.45) was quicker from the outside and took it to the three-year-olds while hung wide into the first turn, with Key West Minibus (63.95) keeping her out there as a rank outsider. Princess Legion (*0.90) came on between rivals to engage the leaders through the first split in 24.23 and the modest fractions allowed everyone but veterans Shadow Of A Doubt (14.45) and Rosemari Perfect (6.05) to keep pace, as they lay in waiting near the back. By the time the field reached the backstretch, True To Form was back on top with Sweep The Ash wide in third and Princess Legion between them and as everyone tucked in, the leader was able to scamper away and set a modest half-mile fraction of 47.98. Positions remained unchanged to six-furlongs in 1:11.44 but Sweep The Ash had had enough and started to back away and with Key West Minibus stalling and the backfield yet to get going, it looked like it was down to the top sophomores to dispute the final quarter-mile. True To Form was still two-lengths to the good at the head of the lane as Princess Legion found her best stride and as the gap started to close, it became more apparent that the odds-on choice might have just enough to win. At the wire, the margin of victory was a nose but not for long-time leader True To Form as Princess Legion just got up in time with Sweep The Ash holding third from Shadow Of A Doubt, with Key West Minibus and Rosemari Perfect no threat in the final furlong.
Princess Legion might have found the fractions of the Summertime Oaks a little too quick but was able to handle a fellow three-year-old and some seasoned veterans with aplomb in the Grade III ONT Matron and earn her fourth win of 2016. A race like the Grade III MTH Oaks could be a possibility for this filly, or even the Summer Colony at SAR, as she looks to build on a solid campaign while saving something for the big races at the end of the year.
Congratulations goes out to owner Aml Racing and their three-year-old filly Princess Legion, a last jump winner of the Grade III ONT Matron at WO!
Prediction Sweep The Ash / Shadow Of A Doubt / True To Form
Winner Princess Legion
Three-year-old gray filly
Legion-Thats Daunting (Sport Gemini)
Owner Aml Racing
Time 24.23, 47.98, 1:11.44, 1:42.06
Overall
Princess Legion *0.90 between runners, clear run late, just up
True To Form 5.80 set moderate pace, clear into lane, missed
Sweep The Ash 2.45 wide run, even late momentum
Shadow Of A Doubt 14.45 back early, mild gains
Key West Minibus 63.95 no threat after wide run
Rosemari Perfect 6.05 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
