Apache Princess Makes The Grade

Sometimes it just doesn't matter. That was the case on Sunday for Apache Princess, a 3 year old filly by Unusual Heat, as she roared home to a comfortable victory in the Sweet Life Stakes (Grade 3) at Santa Anita despite the race being rained off of the turf and moved to the main track. The bay lass sat off of the pace under the capable handling of Hall of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux, skimmed the rail on the turn and unleased a powerful turn of foot down the stretch despite the rider losing his crop. It was the 3rd win in a row for Apache Princess who is trained by Keith Desormeaux for owners-breeders KMN Racing (Kevin and Kimberly Nish). The race which was automatically downgraded to listed becacuse of the surface switch was re-evaluated and reassigned its Grade 3 status by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Apache Princess is the 16th Graded or Group Stakes winner for Unusual Heat. She is out of the Indian Charlie mare Puskita and was bred in California by KMN racing. The victory raises her career record to 6-3-2-0 with earnings of $171,960.