Falls City marks finale for Pampered Princess
Spinster S. (G1) heroine PAMPERED PRINCESS (Indian Charlie) will make her
final career start in Thursday’s $300,000 Falls City H. (G2). Churchill Downs’
Thanksgiving Day feature has attracted 12 distaffers, and Pampered Princess is
the 123-pound highweight for the 1 1/8-mile event.
Trained by Marty Wolfson, the five-year-old Pampered Princess owns five
stakes wins this season, including four of her last five starts. A lung
infection knocked her out of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), but she appears
fully recovered and will spot at least four pounds to all of her rivals. Eddie
Castro rides.
Three-time Grade 2 queen BENDING STRINGS (American Chance), a recent 4
1/2-length winner over the track in the Chilukki S. (G2), is a top challenger.
The Wally Dollase-trained four-year-old will carry 119 pounds, including jockey
Mark Guidry, but must overcome the far outside post position. FLYING GLITTER (Glitterman)
enters off a runner-up finish in the Raven Run S. (G2) and reeled off four
straight wins prior to that, including scores in the Indiana Breeders’ Cup Oaks
(G3) and Monmouth Breeders’ Cup Oaks (G3).
The well-regarded sophomore filly INDIAN VALE (A.P. Indy), a 9 1/2-length
victress in the Turnback the Alarm H. (G3) 19 days back, is a wire-to-wire
threat for trainer Todd Pletcher. Turfway Breeders’ Cup Oaks (G3) winner MISS
FORTUNATE (Deputy Minister), third in last year’s Falls City, also merits
respect.
In post parade order, the contestants are WINNING SEASON (Lemon Drop Kid),
John Jacinto, 112; Miss Fortunate, Larry Melancon, 115; Flying Glitter, Robby
Albarado, 117; Indian Vale, John Velazquez, 115; COTOPAXI (With Approval), Mike
Smith, 112; RAHYS APPEAL (Rahy), Shaun Bridgmohan, 112; JOURNEY FEVER (Gold
Fever), John McKee, 114; LA REASON (Labeeb [GB]), Rafael Bejarano, 114; Pampered
Princess; JOINT ASPIRATION (GB) (Pivotal), Brian Hernandez Jr., 112; KRISTY
BEETHOVEN (Kris S.), Corey Lanerie, 114; and Bending Strings.