The even-money morning-line favorite for the $100,000 Busher at Aqueduct on Saturday is King of
Prussia Stable’s Princess of Sylmar, who is unbeaten in three route
starts.
Fourth on debut in a Penn National sprint in October, Princess
of Sylmar returned to that venue in November to break her maiden by 19
lengths in a one-mile race. Her
two most recent starts were wins at one mile, 70 yards at Aqueduct: a 5
¼-length optional claiming triumph on December 13 and a 7 ½-length romp
in the Busanda on January 5.
“The only thing that surprised us is that she didn’t win first
time out at Penn National,” said Pletcher. “I think it’s just a function
of wanting two turns, so she
has been very impressive since then.”
Princess of Sylmar will depart from post 2 with Javier Castellano in the irons.
In the Busher Pletcher will also send out Kimono, who will
stretch out off a fifth in the six-furlong Ruthless on January 12, and
Marcellina d’Oro, fifth in a
Laurel optional claimer on January 19.
The main challenger to Pletcher’s triumvirate is Kelli Got
Frosty, who has previously raced exclusively against New York-breds. She
got up by a half-length in the
NYSS Park Avenue in November and aired by 9 ½ lengths in the East View on December 9.
Let Me Entertain U completes the Busher field.