Making her first start since winning the G2 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs in November of 2020, John and Susan Moore's homebred Princess Grace was a determined winner of Tuesday's Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Penn. The 4-year-old daughter of Karakontie, sent off as the even-money favorite, saved ground early then out-dueled Madita to the finish to win by a neck. Joe Bravo rode Princess Grace to victory for trainer Mike Stidham, completing 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf in 1:41 flat.
Longshot Glamorous Thunder grabbed the lead at the start and pulled away by two lengths through fractions of 23 1/5 seconds for the opening quarter and 47 3/5 seconds for the half. Platinum Paynter and Madita were steady in their pursuit, while Bravo held Princess Grace at the rail in fourth in the early going.
Rounding the far turn, Bravo steered Princess Grace around the tiring frontrunner before resuming her charge up the rail into the stretch. She hooked up with the duo of Platinum Paynter and Madita at the head of the lane. Madita and Princess Grace pulled away from Platinum Paynter by the eighth pole, and that pair dueled all the way to the line with Princess Grace pulling off the win by a neck in the final few strides. Madita had to settle for second, while Platinum Paynter checked in third. Amniarix was fourth.
Bred in Kentucky by her owners, Princess Grace is the first foal out of the multiple stakes-placed Silent Name mare Masquerade. She won on debut as a sophomore last year over Colonial Downs's turf course, then won an allowance next out on the turf at Monmouth Park. Princess Grace next ran second in the G3 Valley View at Keeneland on turf, before finishing out her 2020 campaign with the win over dirt in the off-the-turf edition of the G2 Mrs. Revere. Overall, the filly's record stands at four wins from five starts with earnings over $320,000.
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