How to bet the 2021 Princess Rooney Stakes

An octet of fillies and mares will vie in the seven-furlong, $350,000 Princess Rooney S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The first-place finisher of the "Win and You’re In" dash will gain an automatic entry to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

Rising sprint star #1 Estilo Talentoso (5-2) continues to fire big against some of the best in her division and rates as the one to beat in the race. Trained by Juan Arriagada, the daughter of Maclean’s Music followed impressive placings in the Derby City Distaff S. (G1) and Madison S. (G1) with a victory in the Bed o’ Roses S. (G3) at Belmont Park last time out.

The four-year-old has won or placed in each of her 14 lifetime engagements, including all six of her efforts at Gulfstream Park. Bred in the Bluegrass State, the bay filly has vast experience at the tricky seven-furlong distance and continues to train in fine fashion this season. Castellano coming in to ride is a major bonus and adds a level of confidence that she is doing well leading up to the affair. The morning-line choice will stalk while saving ground early on.

I think that #3 Thissmytime (6-1) will pose the main threat to the aforementioned filly. Conditioned by Kathleen O’Connell, the stakes-winning Florida-bred comes in fresh for her initial attempt since January, and the last time that she ran off morning drills, the Carpe Diem lass was an 11-length stakes heroine.

The bay has substantial early foot, and I believe that she will secure the early edge in the Princess Rooney with a clean break. Emisael Jaramillo will be in the stirrups atop the upset contender and leading the cast to the top of the stretch at a fair price.

#5 Ce Ce (3-1) has a lot of back class and lands in a good spot to put her best foot forward on Saturday. The two-time Grade 1 queen has run well against top-level competition for some time, and I believe that she will relish both the class relief and cutback in distance following an unplaced showing at Santa Anita most recently. I would feel foolish excluding the Elusive Quality mare in the vertical exotics.

Princess Rooney Wagers

• $10 exacta box 1-3 ($20)
• $1 superfecta 1,3 with 1,3 with 5 all ($10)
• $1 superfecta 1,3 with 5 with 1,3 with all ($10)