'Princess Tries Isola Piu Bella Again

(from Gulfstream Park report)
Martin Cherry's Pampered Princess, second in the Sabin Handicap (gr. III) this winter, will challenge South America's Isola Piu Bella a second time in Saturday's $200,000 Rampart Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park.

Pampered Princess will have her work cut out for her once again while facing the Todd Pletcher-trained Isola Piu Bella, who beat her by 2 1/2 lengths in the Sabin. She will benefit from a three-pound shift in the weights Saturday.

Just five entered the 1 1/8-mile Rampart with Isola Piu Bella the high weight at 118 pounds, two more than her leading rival.

"I would think that (weight shift) would help a little bit," said trainer Martin Wolfson, "but Todd's filly is an exceptional filly. I knew that before we went in the Sabin against her. I'd heard about her when she was still in South America, and then when she came here and Todd got her, I knew she could only get better."

Isola Piu Bella, owned by Sumaya Us Stables, won four group I races in her native Chile before coming to North America for a 2005 campaign.

At least Pampered Princess, making her third appearance at Gulfstream this season after also winning the Banshee Breeze, will not have to withstand her stablemate Adobe Gold.

Pampered Princess, a 5-year-old mare, outlasted Adobe Gold by a head in the Banshee Breeze, run Jan. 23, and finished in front of her younger barn neighbor by a length in the Sabin, contested Feb. 26.

P. R. Speed Inc.'s D' Wildcat Speed, who has been sprinting in four out of five starts since her arrival from Puerto Rico last year, will try two turns once again in the Rampart.

In her most recent race D' Wildcat Speed finished third, beaten four lengths for the win, in Gulfstream's Shirley Jones Handicap (gr. III) Feb. 19 when going seven-eighths.

"She's been going short her last several starts," said trainer Bill White Thursday morning, "but she's gone two turns in Puerto Rico. In fact, she won stakes when going two turns down there. She's been training very well recently, and I expect her to make a very good showing on Saturday."

$200,000 Rampart Handicap (gr. II), fillies & mares 3 & up, 1 1/8 miles
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. My Dear Lady (ARG), 115, Cornelio H. Velasquez
2. D' Wildcat Speed (KY), 113, Manoel R. Cruz
3. Isola Piu Bella (CHI), 118, Eibar Coa
4. Pampered Princess (KY), 116, Eddie Castro
5. India Halo (ARG), 113, Christopher P. DeCarlo