Going off on the tote at some 41-1 odds, Chais Princess ( Aml Racing ) narrowly beats the entry mates from Mb Stables to capture one of the biggest events leading up to the KY Oaks next month.

Santa Anita Park Mile and a sixteenth Dirt April 6th, 2019

While NASA has some of its top satellites out in search of Aml Racings trainer, he must be either on cloud nine or over the moon with this victory. This is the second event I have covered this weekend where a three year old maiden filly returned to capture a Graded title ( the other being the Gazelle with Totally Baroque. ) The victory vaulted the bay filly into fourth place in the KYO points standing, and will surely be getting a well earned rest for that affair.

As the bell rang and the gates swung open, Chais Princess and Scandalous Ways ( Nakamura Stables ) would both break to the top approaching the clubhouse turn. Scandalous Ways was looking to clear and get to the rail, but Chais Princess would have none of that as Mar Garcia hustled him along smartly to keep the rail position. On the outside, Elegant ( Mb Stables) was keeping pace with this duo.

Coming off the turn to the head of the backstretch, and now Elegant was pushed on to try and take the rail on top, but once again Chais Princess was standing her ground, letting Elegant have the lead, but not the rail, Scandalous Ways quickly dropped to the rail behind the eventual winner, while Lucky Pivot ( Serenity Stables ) and Innocent Approach ( Mb Stables ) sat to that ones outside. A wall of three had formed behind them consisting of Steal The Heart ( Samlam ), At The Crossroads ( Gdp Inc. ) and Kalaeloa ( Smokey Stover ), all five off of Elegant. The two early trailers would be Cover Girl ( Chais Princess’s entry mate ) and post time favorite You Just Have 2 Wait.

Entering the far turn after the quarter went in 24 flat and the half in 47.73, and Chais Princess was still annoying Elegant to her inside, staying three quarters of a length back, just enough to keep her off the rail. The lead had now stretched to three and a half length over Scandalous Ways and Innocent Approach. You Just Have 2 Wait was some seven and a half out.

Three quarters of a mile in 1:11.34, and with a furlong to run, the noise in the stands from those who came to watch was deafening as the distance between these two combatants was no within a quarter of a length of each other. Innocent Approach had broke free by a length of her closest competitor, but the other seven runners were within less then five lengths.

Rolled up Programs slapping against hands, people shouting ” Go Elegant“, ” Come on Princess , you can do it “, no one was sitting in their seats. As the trio hit the wire with now Innocent Approach in the mix, it was obvious that the photo light would come up on the tote. After a suspenseful few minutes, the number two would be placed on top of the nine , seven, on the tote, and once the official sign was there, the celebration started.

In it’s15 years here at HRP, Chais Princess made history today being the first ever Maiden winner to enter, and take this title, amazing. The final time for this event was clocked in 1:42.23.

For Mb Stables, while they experience the lost, this was one of the best shows on the card. Always known to battle till the very end.

Coming late and splitting horses was You Just Have 2 Wait to get the minor share, missing by a length. I think her rider figured he had a little more time to get the job done. At The Crossroads would manage to hold off the winners stablemate Cover Girl in the middle of the track for fifth place.

Seventh on back would be Lucky Pivot, Kalaeloa, Scandalous Ways, and Steal The Heart.

Categories: Grade I