An impressive field of fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up will go postward in the Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) at Calder Race Course, the 11th race on the Summit of Speed program July 7.
Heading the field are Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint Stakes victor Shaggy Mane, plus other 2007 graded stakes winners Indian Flare, Maryfield, and River's Prayer.
IEAH Stable's and Sanford Robbins’, and Jimmy Kwong's speedy 4-year-old filly Shaggy Mane will be the one to catch in the Princess Rooney with Cornelio Velasquez getting the call from trainer Don Chatlos, Jr.
A California-bred daughter of Bertrando, Shaggy Mane finished fourth last out in the seven-furlong Humana Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, May 5, after setting the pace to the upper stretch in just her second start this year. The dark bay flew east in late January to win the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint at Gulfstream Park by 7 3/4 lengths going six furlongs.
Indian Flare, a daughter of Cherokee Run, has won two of four starts this year, with her victories coming in the Vagrancy Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park on dirt June 17 and the Flower Girl Handicap on the Santa Anita hillside turf course March 3.
Campaigned as a homebred in the colors of Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, Indian Flare is trained by Bobby Frankel. In the Princess Rooney, the versatile filly will be attempting to avenge her half-length loss to River's Prayer in the April 15 Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita.
River's Prayer is sure to present another challenge to Indian Flare, as she is three-for-three this year. The daughter of Devon Lane's other 2007 triumphs include the Great Lady M Stakes at Hollywood Park and the Irish O'Brien Stakes at Santa Anita, both on turf. River's Prayer is trained by Paula Capestro, who owns her in partnership with Bantry Farms, and Martin Racing Stable.
Another mare looking for her second graded victory of the year is Maryfield, a 6-year-old owned by Empire Stables, Mark Gorman, and Jim Perry. Trained by Doug O'Neill, she impressively scored in the March 24 Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Aqueduct. In the Princess Rooney, she will be attempting to make up for a troubled eighth-place finish in the Humana Distaff.
Completing the field for the Princess Rooney are grade I-placed Nossa Cancao; stakes winners Stolen Prayer, Selvatica, Miraculous Miss, Mykindasaint, and Dixie Dreamer; plus G City Gal, True and True, and Songofthesouth, who are looking to add black-type to their resumes.
Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I), $500,000, July 7, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, six furlongs, approx. post 5:40 p.m. EST
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Songofthesouth, 112, Eduardo Nunez
2. Nossa Cancao, 115, Omar Berrio
3. Indian Flare, 118, Aaron Gryder
4. Selvatica, 119, Jorge Chavez
5. Maryfield, 118, Elvis Trujillo
6. Shaggy Mane, 118, Cornelio Velasquez
7. G City Gal, 114, Christopher DeCarlo
8. River's Prayer, 118, Clinton Potts
9. True and True, 113, Frank Alvarado
10. Mykindasaint, 113, Larry Melancon
11. Stolen Prayer, 115, Manoel Cruz
12. Dixie Dreamer, 112, Robby Albarado
13. Miraculous Miss, 117, Jose Lezcano
