The Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park has seen its grade and purse gradually reduced since it was moved from Calder Race Course a dozen years ago, but the race has experienced a renaissance in its impact on the female sprint division.
Two of the last four winners—Ce Ce in 2021 and Soul of an Angel in 2024—went on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) and were voted champion female sprinter. The Rooney is again part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series this year and will award the winner an automatic fees-paid berth to the Filly and Mare Sprint Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
A year after winning the Rooney with Soul of an Angel, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is back with a four-horse entry for the $200,000, seven-furlong race Sept. 20 at Gulfstream. Joseph also won this race in 2023 with Three Witches, who finished third in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
C2 Racing Stable, Stefania Farms, and BAG Racing Stables' Mystic Lake is the most accomplished filly in this year's field. The 4-year-old daughter of Mo Town has won 10 of 19 lifetime starts, including six black-type stakes, two grade 2s, and her last three in a row. She looks like a clear favorite in the Rooney, although she was cross-entered in the $150,000 Liberty Bell Stakes Saturday at PARX Racing.
Joseph has some interesting backups if he sends the 123-pound co-highweight to Philadelphia. Miller Racing's Claret Beret, a 4-year-old Not This Time filly, won an overnight handicap at Gulfstream by 19 3/4 lengths in her first race in the Joseph barn, then ran second, beaten 3/4 of a length by grade 1 winner Vahva in the June 21 Chicago Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. Claret Beret regressed in her most recent start when finishing sixth, beaten 25 lengths in the Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Also for Miller Racing, Joseph entered Ultimate Authority, a 4-year-old Practical Joke filly who made her first eight lifetime starts in California for trainer Tim Yakteen. Ultimate Authority hasn't run since April 19 when she finished a distant third behind Richi in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Maria Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Both of Ultimate Authority's career wins came around two turns going a mile, but perhaps Joseph envisions a distance change, a la Soul of an Angel, could unlock a new ceiling. She has been flashing some speed in her workouts since joining Joseph's string at Palm Meadows Training Center.
Joseph's fourth entry is the Arkansas-bred 4-year-old Coal Front filly Haulin Ice, the 123-pound co-highweight owned by C2 and Miller. Haulin Ice, a grade 3 winner, had a four-race win streak snapped in the Aug. 16 Sheer Drama Handicap at Gulfstream. The filly who beat her, Blu Boy Racing Stable and Matty Dan Racing Stable's Vincey Girl, returns and drew the rail for trainer Jose D'Angelo.
Another challenger is MyRacehorse and JR Ranch's 3-year-old Bolt d'Oro filly Reputation. She won the Tyson Gilpin Stakes by 6 3/4 lengths Aug. 9 at Colonial Downs and will be making her first start vs. older horses.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, September 20, 2025, Race 10Entries: Princess Rooney Invitational S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Vincey Girl (KY) Edwin Gonzalez 121 Jose Francisco D'Angelo - 2 Haulin Ice (AR) Edgard J. Zayas 123 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 3 Ultimate Authority (KY) Skyler Spanabel 121 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 4 Nerazurri (KY) Edgar Perez 116 Angel Quiroz - 5 Reputation (KY) Miguel Angel Vasquez 118 Gustavo Delgado - 6 Mystic Lake (FL) Reylu Gutierrez 123 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 7 Gallop d'Hermes (KY) Yolber Torres 119 Dante Zanelli, Jr. - 8 Claret Beret (KY) Micah J. Husbands 121 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. -
