Princess Arabella Comes Back With Fast Drill

Leading Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) candidate Princess Arabella, undefeated in two starts for trainer Bob Baffert, worked a sharp five furlongs in 59 seconds flat handily at Santa Anita March 9.

Peachtree Stable's chestnut filly is preparing for the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks at 1 1/16 miles March 25 in New Mexico, which would be her first stakes race. She is a daughter of Any Given Saturday--Tortuga Lady, by Thunder Gulch.

Princess Arabella dominated an allowance field of sophomore fillies Feb. 12 at Santa Anita, winning the seven-furlong test by 3 1/2 lengths as a 1-10 favorite. She broke her maiden in equally impressive style Dec. 31.

The work, over a fast track, was the first since her allowance win. It was the second fastest of 51 at the distance on the morning.

In the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager that concluded March 4, Princess Arabella was made the top individual choice for the race at odds of 6-1. Her stablemate, Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) winner Eden's Moon, was 9-1 in the same pool.

Baffert would be looking for his second straight triumph in the Sunland Park Oaks. Last year's winner, Plum Pretty, was also owned by Peachtree Stable and went on to win the Kentucky Oaks.