A royal run at Santa Anita

Princess Arabella became a TDN Rising Star following her first start at Santa Anita on New Year’s Eve, cruising to a three and one-half-length victory in 1:08.4 over 1200m. That victory by the three-year-old daughter of Any Given Saturday prompted trainer Bob Baffert to comment, “I think Princess Arabella’s going to be better than Plum Pretty.” Medaglia d’Oro’s Plum Pretty won the G1 Kentucky Oaks in 2011 and, like Princess Arabella, races in the colors of John Fort’s Peachtree Stable.

Her second start on February 12 was equally as impressive as she equalled the winning margin of her first race while stretching out a bit to 1400m. Trainer Baffert made similar comments on his star filly saying, ““This was perfect. “She got something out of it. I think she’s something special.” The trainer said her next start will be in either the G1 Las Virgenes or G1 Santa Anita Oaks, both to be contested next month.

Princess Arabella was bred by Greenwich Cattle Company in Kentucky. She is the sixth foal of her dam, Tortuga Lady, to reach the track. All are now winners, including Stakes winner and multiple Graded-placed Dyna’s Lassie. Tortuga Lady is also a half-sister to G1 Kentucky Derby-placed Invisible Ink as well as Stakes-placed Inner Circle.

Any Given Saturday has also sired the Stakes-placed winner Sunday’s Child, as well as other impressive Maiden Special winners At the Palace (Aqueduct), Biogio’s Gift (Keeneland), Scream Queen (Santa Anita) as well as Saturday Skies in Australia. Any Given Saturday will be represented by three lots at the forthcoming Inglis Premier yearling sale, including lot 294, a half-brother to G2 Sandown Guineas winner So Swift, from the draft of Salamander Park.