Rodney Lundock's Maryquitecontrary clinched an eye-catching victory when last at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28 in the seven-furlong Inside Information (G2) and she looks to have a repeat Oct. 7 in the $200,000 Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) over the same distance.
Saturday's field of nine fillies and mares will vie for the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In berth, which gives the winner a fees-paid entry into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Nov. 4.
Transferred to trainer David Fawkes' barn at Gulfstream, the 4-year-old First Dude filly will seek her sixth straight success over Gulfstream's main track as the 5-2 favorite.
"She's been training great since she's been here," Fawkes said. "Her last work was really good."
The Field (in starting position)
BC Racing's Flakes, third runner up in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) April 1; Maryquitecontrary; AMO Racing USA's Olivia Darling; Bluefield, one of three Saffie Joseph Jr. starters; e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Three Witches, returning from a five-month layoff and last out win Aug. 27; Eddie Kenneally's multiple stakes winner Last Leaf; Rosie's Halo, a three-quarter length runner up to Saturday's favorite in a June 22 allowance race; graded stakes-placed R Adios Jersey, coming into the weekend off an impressive 6 1/2-length victory in the Sheer Drama Stakes; and Poiema, a last out winner Sept. 10 on this oval.
Entries: Princess Rooney Invitational S. (G3)
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, October 7, 2023, Race 9
- Grade III
- 7f
- Dirt
- $200,000
- 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 4:47 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Flakes (FL) | Emisael Jaramillo | 116 | Juan Alvarado | 20/1 |
| 2 | 2Maryquitecontrary (FL) | Luca Panici | 123 | David Fawkes | 5/2 |
| 3 | 3Olivia Darling (KY) | Jose E. Morelos | 119 | Jorge Delgado | 10/1 |
| 4 | 4Bluefield (FL) | Edgard J. Zayas | 119 | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | 6/1 |
| 5 | 5Three Witches (KY) | Leonel Reyes | 119 | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | 8/1 |
| 6 | 6Last Leaf (KY) | Miguel Angel Vasquez | 119 | Eddie Kenneally | 4/1 |
| 7 | 7Rosie's Halo (FL) | Samy Camacho | 119 | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | 15/1 |
| 8 | 8R Adios Jersey (FL) | Edwin Gonzalez | 119 | Georgina Baxter | 7/2 |
| 9 | 9Poiema (FL) | Edgar Perez | 119 | Joseph C. Catanese, III | 8/1 |
