LOUISVILLE, KY – A perfectly-timed stalking trip made all the difference for Evan, Matthew, and Andrew Trommer’s Princess Warrior as she earned her first career graded score in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Breaking from post 6 at odds of 11-1 under Brian Hernandez, Jr., Princess Warrior sat off the early pace while Arabella Bella and Cool Beans took turns leading through opening fractions of :24.43, :50.01, and 1:15.83. Beginning to advance through the far turn, Princess Warrior hit the top of the stretch full of run and commenced a strong rally toward the front. Driving past Cool Beans inside the final furlong, the Kenny McPeek trainee edged away late to win by a length in a final time of 1:47.61 for the 8 1/2-furlong event over the yielding turf course.
“I saw (trainer Chad Brown)’s filly (Stella di Camelot) was a bit aggressive passing the wire for the first time, and I knew going into the race she was the one to beat,” said Hernandez, Jr. “I tucked in behind her, and when we turned for home, she really responded well to me.”
Get Explicit was able to catch and pass a weakening Cool Beans late for second by 2 lengths. Kabella headed Stella di Camelot for fourth, with Lessons From Avery another head back in sixth. Angel of Mischief, Dark Artist, Divine Queen, and a spent Arabella Bella completed the order of finish. High Tech and Over Thinking were both scratched.
Princess Warrior’s win was her second of the year and improved her overall record to 14-3-3-2. The 3-year-old daughter of Midshipman has now earned $410,741 in her career, a marked return on the $60,000 that Evan Trommer paid for her at auction in May 2017.
“She’s a lighter type of filly and has really handled the grass well,” McPeek said. “I hope this race can get us an invite to the (Grade 1) American Oaks (at Santa Anita on December 29).”
Princess Warrior returned $24.60 to win, $8 to place, and $4.80 to show. Get Explicit brought back $9.80 to place and $5.80 to show, while Cool Beans paid $4 to show.
