Princess Grace Delivers Game Dr. Penny Memorial Win
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Photo: Barbara Weidl/EQUI-PHOTO
Princess Grace (inside) turns back Madita to win the Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes at Parx Racing
John and Susan Moore's homebred Princess Grace started her season with a bang and added to her nearly impeccable record July 6 with a game victory in the $200,000 Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes (G3) at Parx Racing.
After rating fourth behind fractions of :23.22, :47.67, and 1:11.63 set by longshot Glamorous Thunder , the 4-year-old daughter of Karakontie rapidly split rivals under Joe Bravo in the 1 1/16-mile turf event for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up, and edged a determined foe in Madita after a long drive to secure the victory by a neck.
The final time was 1:41.18 on a course rated firm. Princess Grace, the even-money favorite in a seven-horse field, returned $4 on a $2 win ticket. Madita held for second, and Platinum Paynter was two lengths back in third.
Princess Grace, winner of the 2020 Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2) on the dirt at Churchill Downs for trainer Michael Stidham in November, put together back-to-back graded scores with her first start of 2021. From five starts, her lone loss was a runner-up finish in October in the Pin Oak Valley View Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland. Her earnings now stand at $320,460.
Bred in Kentucky out of the winning stakes-placed Silent Name mare Masquerade, Princess Grace is her dam's first foal. The mare has an unraced 2-year-old Kitten's Joy colt named Catnip and foaled a Frosted filly Feb. 6.
Video: Dr. James Penny Memorial S. (G3T)