CCA Oaks Win for Princess of Sylmar

Quality filly Princess of Sylmar (3f Majestic Warrior x Storm Dixie, by Catienus) added another major victory to her tally on Saturday when capturing the Grade I TVG Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. Already a winner of the Grade I Kentucky Oaks during the spring, which she won as a long shot, the Todd Pletcher trained filly was having her first run since then and confirmed her true ability. Ridden by Javier Castellano, Princess of Sylmar angled four wide off the far turn to get the lead in the five-horse field and powered clear down the running to win by six lengths, her overall record now six wins and a second from eight starts with prizemoney topping $1million. "I think everyone kind of lost sight of the fact that going into the Kentucky Oaks, it was billed as the best Oaks we've seen in 25 years; this filly wins it and gets virtually no respect," Pletcher said. "I think today she put herself at the top of the leader board (for 3-year-old fillies), and now everyone understands that the Kentucky Oaks was a real race." A homebred for Ed Stanco, Princess of Sylmar is the first winner for stakes-placed Storm Dixie, a half-sister to Grade III winner Rhythm Band. She is the best of six stakes-winners by leading young sire Majestic Warrior, whose oldest progeny are three year-olds.