Princess Noor lights up Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita
ARCADIA — If Princess Noor had any detractors, the band of naysayers undoubtedly dwindled significantly after the $200,000 Grade II Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.
Princess Noor had won her first two starts, including the Grade I Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 6, by a combined nine lengths and looked like a special filly while doing so. But the daughter of Not This Time had yet to pass the test of going two turns successfully.
She aced that test Saturday in the Chandelier, winning by 8 1/4 lengths as the 1-5 favorite under regular rider Victor Espinoza, sitting just off the pace before asked to go. When Espinoza gave her the cue, she drew away from the other four fillies and made it three consecutive victories by a combined 17 1/4 lengths.
Princess Noor’s next test will most likely come in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 6 at Keeneland.
“The talent, the energy, the speed!” Espinoza said after the race. “She dominated everyone with the energy she created during the race and I had a lot of confidence in her. Bob (winning trainer Bob Baffert) knows how to train his horses.”
Espinoza continued with some lofty comparisons.
“She reminds me of the other great horses I used to ride like American Pharoah and California Chrome,” he said. “The talent is there, we just have to let them be happy around the race track. I’ve been riding amazing horses, but as a filly, she’s the best one I’ve ever ridden.”
Varda, also trained by Baffert, finished second, 9 1/4 lengths clear of Miss Costa Rica.
Winning time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:45.59, compared to a winning time of 1:44.92 for the boys at the same distance five races later in the American Pharoah Stakes.
“I saw Victor get behind and I saw that nice move before the three-eighths (pole), and you can only do that when you have a Ferrari under you,” Baffert said. “This filly is just incredible and very talented.”
Rodeo Drive Stakes
Juan Hernandez made it three victories on the day, guiding Mucho Unusual, third choice at 3-1, gate to wire for a 1 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 Grade I turf race for fillies and mares and earning an all-expenses paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Trained by Tim Yakteen, Mucho Unusual covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.19 while scoring her fifth lifetime victory in 16 starts and giving Hernandez the first Grade I victory of his career.
“I always wanted to win a Grade I, always tried really hard, but I couldn’t,” Hernandez said. “Today was the day.”
Maxim Rate finished second, and Lady Prancealot, the 7-5 favorite, was third.
John Henry Turf Championship
United, the 3-5 favorite, atoned for an upset loss in the Del Mar Handicap by going gate to wire to win the $200,000 Grade II turf event for 3-year-olds and up by 1 1/2 lengths.
Ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Richard Mandella, United covered the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.17 while scoring his seventh victory in 16 career starts.
Originaire finished second, and Another Mystery was third.
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