Ice Princess came through a narrow opening at the top of the stretch en route to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Maddie May S. Feb. 23 at Aqueduct to become Palace Malice’s fourth stakes winner and second this year.
Palace Malice, who is currently second on the Second-Crop sire list, is the sire of Risen Star S. (G2) winner Mr. Monomoy and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Structor, who will make his dirt debut in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth S. (G2).
The 3-year-old filly broke her maiden by a dozen lengths at first asking before a credible fourth in last October’s Frizette S. (G1). A dominating allowance last month kicked off her 2020 campaign, and with Sunday’s win, she is 3-0-0 in four starts and has earned $148,300.
Under a stout hold by jockey Manny Franco behind horses the first half-mile, Ice Princess lacked racing room until approaching the quarter pole, when she shot to the lead and out-finished Courageous Girl to win handily.
“I was the favorite, so they weren’t going to let me do it easily. I had horse the whole way. I felt that as soon as I got out and I asked my filly, she was going to respond the best,” said Franco. “She still is a little green. When she made the lead, she kind of pulled up a little bit. Once you start working on her, she gets going. The more distance, the better for her. She’s got the right body for it.”
Ice Princess was bred by Mina Equivest LLC and is owned by the partnership of Flying P Stable, R. A. Hill Stable and Corms Racing Stable.
