Yorkiepoo Princess has already established her sprinting prowess winning both the Furlough and Ruthless at Aqueduct since November. On Saturday, the Kantharos filly will attempt to stretch her speed around two turns for the first time in the $150,000 Busher over 1 1/16 miles of the Big A’s inner oval.
The Busher is one of two Kentucky Oaks (G1) preps Saturday that awards 50 qualifying points to the race’s winner, the other being the Rachel Alexandra (G3) at Fair Grounds. Points of 20-10-5 will go to the second- through fourth-place finishers.
A graduate of the maiden claiming ranks, Yorkiepoo Princess was up the track in her stakes debut in the Chelsey Flower on turf, but has comfortably captured her two main track assignments since then. Leading all the way to win the November 24 Ruthless by 2 3/4 lengths, she stalked the pace early in the January 14 Ruthless before surging forward and winning by 7 1/2 lengths.
Yorkiepoo Princess’ maiden win was over a mile, albeit around one turn at Belmont. Among those with two-turn experience are Full House and No Sweat. The former, after placing in her first two outings against Banty’s Girl and Heavenly Score sprinting, exploded over a mile last time to break her maiden by 13 3/4 lengths for Jimmy Jerkens.
No Sweat, who bested Tiz Rude and stablemate Thirstforthecup in a Parx maiden in November, finished six lengths third in the Busanda last month in her stakes debut for Todd Pletcher, who notably saddled Princess of Sylmar to victory in the Busher and Kentucky Oaks back in 2013.
In addition to Full House, others stepping off recent maiden wins include Heavenly Score and Spanish Harlem. Bride Street, who made a winning debut for Kiaran McLaughlin in November, was a distant fourth to Yorkiepoo Princess in the Ruthless when last seen.
