Palazzo Princess waited patiently at the pylons, then unleashed a powerful move that carried her to victory in a dazzling 1:52.4, fastest this year for a three-year-old pacing filly on a 5/8-mile track, Friday at The Meadows
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It was the second consecutive win for Palazzo Princess in the Kat N Mouse series. Western Six captured the other $15,000 division in the series second leg. The final will be contested as a non-wagering next Friday prior to qualifiers, as The Meadows has no live racing that day.
Unlike her wire-to-wire score in the opening leg, Palazzo Princess ducked and settled in third, allowing My Lady Bonnard to cut the fractions. But when Aaron Merriman tipped her off the cones, the daughter of Jate Lobell-Hawaiian Exotica gobbled up the leaders and drew off to score by 5-1/2 lengths.
My Lady Bonnard finished second but was placed back to third for interference with Star Of India, who was promoted to second. Paul Kennedy, Jr. trains Palazzo Princess for Paint Creek Farms.
A six-race maiden entering her split, Western Six ground out a tough first-over victory, defeating Model Magnate by a nose in 1:54.1, with Amazon Queen a close-up third. Dick Stillings drove the daughter of Western Hanover-Garish for trainer Jim Ferguson and owners Richard Suda, Ruth Suda, Arlene Deets and Judy Ferguson.
In an oddity, Kat N Mouse, the six-year-old mare for whom the series is named, raced on the card, finishing out of the money in an $18,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred event.
Natalie captured her second straight $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace — but not without some late-stretch drama. As Natalie raced in the pocket behind Jans Luck, Mike Wilder appeared to point the four-year-old daughter of Jennas Beach Boy-Armbro Redwood to the “Lightning Lane.” When Natalie seemed to resist that route, Wilder redirected her outside, where she had both clearance and pace.
Natalie won in 1:52.2, downing Jans Luck by a neck. Chinatown K was third. Kevin McDermott trains Natalie for Fran Azur.
Click here to view Friday's results.
(The Meadows)