SANTA ANITA

Selcourt may pressure Princess Karen

ARCADIA, Calif. – Speed has been a hindrance for Princess Karen in her last two starts.

She dueled for the lead in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar in November and finished fifth. In the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, she set the pace and faded to finish sixth.

“She took a lot of heat,” trainer Jeff Bonde recalled Thursday.

For the moment, Princess Karen is done with Grade 1 races. A minor stakes winner in September, Princess Karen has been entered in Sunday’s $75,000 Kalookan Queen Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares.

She could again face pace pressure. Selcourt, unraced since May when she finished third in the Angels Flight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies here, is quick enough to challenge Princess Karen, and a potential speed duel is likely to determine the outcome of the Kalookan Queen. If one of those fillies can shake away, the race could be over. If they fight too quickly, a closer could be the beneficiary.

The Kalookan Queen drew a field of nine and is the first of two stakes on Sunday’s ninerace program. In the day’s final race, there are 11 fillies and mares in the $75,000 Astra Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

KEY CONTENDERS

Princess Karen, by Stay Thirsty Last 3 Beyers: 85-87-89

◗ Owned by Bonde, Karen Norton, and Edward Brown Jr., Princess Karen won the Beverly Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs Sept. 9 at Los Alamitos, her only stakes win in seven appearances in such races. Princess Karen has led or disputed the pace in nearly all nine of her starts, which includes three wins.

“She’s better at one turn,” Bonde said. “She always places herself up close. It’s just her nature.”

Selcourt, by Tiz Wonderful Last 3 Beyers: 86-87-85

◗ Selcourt and Princess Karen were second and fifth in the Angels Flight Stakes at seven furlongs here last May, dueling through the first halfmile before fading. Selcourt was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Faypien, who later won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita.

◗ Selcourt has not raced since suffering an injury that required a lengthy rest, trainer John Sadler said. Sadler said Friday that he has been encouraged by her recent workouts, including five furlongs in 59.80 seconds Dec. 30, the fastest of 79 recorded works at the distance.

“She’s been good on this track consistently,” he said. “We know she handles this track well.

“She has high-class form. I think she has a chance to win it.”

Cuddle Alert, by Bedford Falls Last 3 Beyers: 81-74-88

◗ Cuddle Alert won the Spring Fever Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs last February by closing into a quick pace. A 7-year-old trained by Reed Saldana, she will benefit if a fast pace develops in the Kalookan Queen.

◗ Cuddle Alert was second in the Bear Fan Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs Dec. 9 at Golden Gate Fields.