Jess jolts her way through in Lake George

My Princess Jess ruled the Lake George (Bill Roberts/Horsephotos.com) Lael Stables’ MY PRINCESS JESS (Stormy Atlantic) looked trapped in traffic in Friday’s $150,000 Lake George S. (G2), but the Barclay Tagg pupil eventually blasted between rivals to establish her superiority. Under a steely Eibar Coa, the dark bay sophomore finished 1 1/16 miles on Saratoga’s soft inner turf in 1:44, and after surviving a stewards’ inquiry, extended her winning streak to three. My Princess Jess saved ground early, reserved just off the unhurried fractions of :25 1/5, :50 and 1:14 2/5 posted by Stealin’ Kisses (Sky Mesa). Alwajeeha (Dixieland Band) stalked on the outside in second, while Zee Zee (Exchange Rate) was also prominent. At the top of the stretch, Alwajeeha collared Stealin’ Kisses and took command, but My Princess Jess was crying out for running room behind them. When a slight gap appeared between them, Coa drove My Princess Jess through. As she rocketed forward, she made contact with Stealin’ Kisses, who appeared to bounce off the rail before clipping heels, checking and bobbling. Up front, My Princess Jess surged past Alwajeeha to post a decisive three-quarters of a length victory. The inquiry sign was promptly put up, but after further review, the stewards decided to let the result stand.

Sent off as the second choice at 2-1, My Princess Jess returned $6.10, $3.40
and $2.30. The 8-1 Alwajeeha gave back $6.40 and $3.70. Another two lengths back
came Zee Zee, who had loomed boldly on the outside turning for home but failed
to sustain her bid through the stretch. The third-placer yielded $2.80 at 3-1.
The exacta was worth $33.80, and the 2-5-6 trifecta totaled $84.50. Receipt (Dynaformer)
checked in fourth, followed by Stealin’ Kisses and 9-5 favorite Mousse au
Chocolat (Hennessy), a French shipper who stood still when the gate opened and
clipped heels in a separate incident in the stretch.

My Princess Jess was sold for $50,000 at the 2007 Adena March two-year-old
sale, but was privately acquired by Lael Stables after her stylish score in the
May 8 Gaviola S. at Belmont Park. In her debut for Lael and Tagg, she captured
the Boiling Springs S. (G3) on June 28 at Monmouth. My Princess Jess now sports
a 7-4-3-0 mark with $285,420 in earnings.

Bred in Florida by Adena Springs, My Princess Jess is the first foal out of
the Pleasant Colony mare Jewell of Jewels and counts as half-siblings an unraced
juvenile filly named Countess Imperio (Awesome Again), an unnamed yearling filly
by Sligo Bay (Ire) and a 2008 colt by Ghostzapper. Jewell of Jewels is herself a
half-sister to 1996 champion older mare and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner
Jewel Princess (Key to the Mint), an earner of more than $1.9 million.

According to Tagg, My Princess Jess will await the September 6 Garden City S.
(G1) at Belmont, with the October 11 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge
Cup (G1) at Keeneland also on her radar.

“We’ll skip the Lake Placid (S. [G2] on August 15,” Tagg said. “She has run
back-to-back gutsy races. We want to give her a break.”