There are moves and then there are huge moves. On June 28 in the Boiling Springs Handicap (gr. IIIT) (VIDEO) at Monmouth Park, My Princess Jess made a "huge" move. But she then had to hold off the late-charging Much Obliged to get the victory.
My Princess Jess, a 3-year-old filly by Stormy Atlantic , sat chilly under Joe Bravo, swept to the lead as the field entered the stretch and opened up by more than three lengths. But the race was not over. Chris Emigh and Much Obliged were last in the nine-horse field for the first half-mile but were flying late and came up a neck short at the wire.
My Princess Jess, owned by Lael Stables and trained by Barclay Tagg, paid $5.80, $3.20, and $2.60. Much Obliged returned $4 and $3.40 and Forrest Trail was third and paid $3.40.
Encanto Park and Saki to Me made the lead out of the gate and led the field through a quarter in :23.07 and a half in :46.77. Nicksappealinglady and Dagger filled the third and fourth spots early.
As the field went six furlongs in 1:10.85 and cornered for home, Bravo had My Princess Jess moving wide and circling horses. The pair opened up down the lane and just had enough to hold off the impressive late run of Much Obliged.
The winner ran the distance in 1:39.81, breaking the course record of 1:40.41.
"I was very impressed, we all were," Tagg said. "She broke the track record today. This filly has a very nice turn of foot. This was her first start for us. Mr. (Roy) Jackson purchased her after her last start. We’ll probably find something at Saratoga for her next."
"Barclay Tagg makes me look good," Bravo said. "This filly was much the best today. I had ridden her down in Florida two starts when she ran a banged up second. Barclay (trainer Tagg) got her after she won her first stakes at Belmont last time out. This is a very nice filly, who is improving in each start. She is getting better step by step."
"She looked like she’d be a real nice turf filly, so we purchased her after her last race (May 8 at Belmont)," Jackson, best known for racing Barbaro with his wife, Gretchen. "I just thought she was improving and she ran very well this afternoon. We’ll leave it up to Barclay as to her next start."
In her first stakes start, My Princess Jess had won the Gaviola Stakes at Belmont. She was previously trained by Bobby Barbara.
Out of the Pleasant Colony mare Jewell of Jewels, My Princess Jess was bred in Florida by Adena Springs.
(Chart, Equibase)