Joseph Nominates 6 to G3 Princess Rooney in Quest for 4 In a Row

Defending Champion Haulin Ice on List of 21 Nominations
Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Race Set for Sept. 12

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL –The $225,000 Princess Rooney (G3), the highlight of the Sunshine Meet that gets underway at Gulfstream Park Friday, received 21 nominations for the 40th running of the seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares Saturday, Sept. 12.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has nominated six fillies and mares to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland Oct. 31. Joseph, who is on the verge of collecting his 16th consecutive Gulfstream meet training title on the final day of the Royal Palm Meet Monday, has saddled the three most recent Princess Rooney winners, Three Witches (2023), Soul of an Angel (2024) and Haulin Ice (2025).

The winner of the Princess Rooney will receive a fees-paid entry into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, as well as a travel allowance to Keeneland.

Three Witches followed up her half-length Princess Rooney win with a third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita. Soul of an Angel, a 3 1/4-length winner of the Princess Rooney, went on to capture the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar.

C2 Racing Stable, WSS Racing and Agave Racing Stable’s Haulin Ice, who won last year’s Princess Rooney by 4 3/4 lengths before finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, is among the six Joseph nominees. Also nominated to the Princess Rooney are: Miller Racing LLC’s Anakarina, Agave Racing Stable and Miller Racing LLC’s Indy Bay, Epic Horses LLC, BAG Racing Stables LLC and The White House Stables LLC’s Kerry’s Kiss, C2 Racing Stable LLC, Shining Stables LLC, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch and BAG Racing Stable’s Paradise City, and Averill Racing LLC and ATM Racing’s R Disaster.

Trainer Michael McCarthy, who saddled Ce Ce for back-to-back Princess Rooney victories in 2021 and 2022 as well as a triumph in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar, has nominated Berkels0813 LLC, CMNWLTH LLC, Grantley Acres and Ryan Connor’s Simply Joking, a multiple Grade1 stakes-placed 4-year-old daughter of Practical Joke.

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella nominated Spendthrift Farm LLC’s Magnificat, s 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach who finished second in the Great Lady M (G2) at Loa Alamitos last time out.

Trainer D. Whitworth Beckman has nominated Pick View LLC, Two Eight Racing, Ribble Farms LLC, Quinn’s Ride LLC and Legion Racing’s Queen Jubilee, a late-developing 4-year-old daughter of Queen Jubilee, who is coming off an 8 1/2-length allowance victory at Colonial.

G, Harry Papaleo’s Maida, a Brittany Russell-trained 4-year-old daughter of Improbable who won the Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga before finishing eighth in the Ballerina (G1), has also been nominated to the Princess Rooney. Russell is also represented on the nominations list by Machmer Hall Thoroughbreds’ Especially, a 4-year-old daughter of Flatter who is coming off an allowance score at Colonial Downs.

Trainer Brad Cox nominated Juddmonte’s Conceit, a late-developing 3-year-old daughter of Not This Time who is coming off a victory in the Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park.

Irish Three Racing LLC’s Irish Maxima, who captured the Ruffian (G2) at Aqueduct, has been nominated to the Princess Rooney by trainer John Servis, who also nominated Mainline Stables and Avalon Racing Stables’ Five a Side, who is coming off a 6 1/4-length victory in the Groupie Doll Stakes at Ellis Park.

The Princess Rooney will be supported on the Sept. 12 card by the $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, a five-furlong turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up that received 18 nominations.

Jose D’Angelo nominated Qatar Racing LLC and Soldi Stable LLC’s Gabaldon, who won the Royal Palm Juvenile and finished second in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot in his first two career starts in 2024, to the Umphrey. The 4-year-old son of Gone Astray just missed in his most recent outing in an allowance at Del Mar.

Trainer Joe Orseno nominated Robert Cotran’s Rezasrolex, a winner of 13 of 17 races at Gulfstream, Extendo, a veteran Turf sprinter currently in winning form, and Ironhorse Racing Stable LLC and Harlow Stables LLC’s veteran Mattingly.