Princess Warrior Prevails in Grade II, $200,000 Mrs. Revere

Nov 24, 2018

Princess Warrior commenced her run midway around the far turn and edged past Cool Beans inside the final furlong to win Saturday’s 28^th running of the $200,000 Mrs. Revere (Grade II) at Churchill Downs by one length over a surging Get Explicit.

Owned by Evan, Matthew and Andrew Trommer, Princess Warrior ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.61 over a Matt Winn Turf Course rated “yielding” to collect her first stakes win. Brian Hernandez Jr. rode the winner for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Princess Warrior, who previously finished fourth in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, banked the $117,800 first prize and rewarded her backers with $2 mutuels of $24.60, $8 and $4.80 as the 11-1 fifth betting choice in the field of 10 3-year-old fillies.

Longshot Arabella Bella broke fastest of all and ran the first quarter mile in :24.43 before Cool Beans took over down the backstretch through a half-mile in :50.01 and six furlongs in 1:15.83. Princess Warrior was well positioned in the clear on the outside while racing near the back of the pack. She initiated her winning move around the turn with a four-wide rally, drew within striking distance at the top of the stretch and proved to be best down the stretch while holding off a late run from Get Explicit.

“Coming from the (Queen Elizabeth) really benefited her today,” said Hernandez, who also rode Linda to victory in the 2016 Mrs. Revere. “I saw (trainer) Chad (Brown)’s filly (Stella di Camelot) was a bit aggressive passing the wire for the first time and I knew going into the race she was the one to beat. I tucked in behind her and when we turned for home she really responded well to me. I think the Queen Elizabeth gave her a lot of confidence for this start today.”

Runner-up Get Explicit, under Ricardo Santana Jr., paid $9.80 and $5.80. Cool Beans, ridden by Florent Geroux, was another two lengths back in third and paid $4 to show.

Kabella was fourth and was followed by 1-2 betting favorite Sella di Camelot (IRE), Lessons From Avery, Angel of Mischief, Dark Artist, Divine Queen and Arabella Bella. High Tech and Over Thinking were scratched.

“It was a tough post position,” said Joel Rosario, who rode Pebbles Stakes winner Stella di Camelot (IRE). “I tried to get her over early from that far outside but we were pretty up against it. She just didn’t have enough in the final stretch.”

The winner’s share of the purse pushed Princess Warrior’s earnings to $410,741 from a record of 3-3-2 in 14 starts.

“She’s a lighter type of filly and has really handled the grass well,” McPeek said. “I hope this race can get us an invite to the (Dec. 29) American Oaks (GI) (at Santa Anita).”

Princess Warrior is a bay daughter of Midshipman out of the Consolidator mare Sessa who was bred in Kentucky by George M. Veloudis Jr.

The Mrs. Revere is named in honor of Mrs. Revere, an accomplished Churchill Downs fan favorite in the mid-1980s. Mrs. Revere won 12 races in 28 starts, finished second seven times and earned $429,545 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Her six wins in a dozen starts at Churchill Downs included stakes triumphs in the Regret, Dogwood and Edgewood in 1984 and the Kentucky Cardinal in 1985. She was owned by Drs. David Richardson and Hiram Polk, who have provided the winner’s trophy for the Mrs. Revere in each year of its existence.

MRS. REVERE QUOTES

Brian Hernandez Jr., jockey of PRINCESS WARRIOR (winner): “Coming from the (1 1/8-mile Queen Elizabeth) really benefited her today. I saw Chad (Brown)’s filly (Stella di Camelot) was a bit aggressive passing the wire for the first time and I knew going into the race she was the one to beat. I tucked in behind her and when we turned for home she really responded well to me. I think the Queen Elizabeth gave her a lot of confidence for this start today.”

Kenny McPeek, trainer of PRINCESS WARRIOR (winner): “We took her off the dirt and her form fell off really bad. I thought she may have just been in heat and dealing with some female problems. She’s a lighter type of filly and has really handled the grass well. I’m thrilled that my great friends Dr. Polk and Dr. Richardson are here to present the trophy. I hope this race can get us an invite to the (Dec. 29) American Oaks (GI) (at Santa Anita).”

Ricardo Santana Jr., jockey of GET EXPLICIT (runner-up): “My filly ran really big this afternoon. We couldn’t quite get to the winner down the lane but I’m really proud of her effort. She dug in and tried the entire trip.”

Florent Geroux, jockey of COOL BEANS (third): “We were pressured early on but she settled nicely. She just didn’t have enough in the final eighth-mile.”

Joel Rosario, jockey of STELLA DI CAMELOT (fifth as 1-2 favorite): “It was a tough post position. I tried to get her over early from that far outside but we were pretty up against it. She just didn’t have enough in the final stretch.”