The Florida sun will beat down on the dirt track at Gulfstream Park this Saturday, setting the stage for one of the most intriguing horse races of the season: the 2025 Princess Rooney Stakes. This isn't just another Grade 3 sprint; it's a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and it has a history of launching champion careers.
As the gates prepare to open, all eyes are on one man: trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who brings an almost unheard-of four-horse contingent to the seven-furlong dash. His deep-seated strategy and powerful stable present a fascinating puzzle for anyone trying to crack the Princess Rooney betting odds and make a winning wager.
This race has a rich history of producing top-tier talent. Back-to-back winners Ce Ce (2021, 2022) went on to capture the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, as did last year's Princess Rooney winner, Saffie Joseph Jr.'s own Soul of an Angel. Joseph also trained the 2023 winner, Three Witches, cementing his dominance in this very race.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Haulin Ice | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Edgard Zayas | C2 Racing Stable LLC, Braverman, Paul, Miller Racing LLC and Pinch, Timothy | 1:22.08 |
| 2024 | Soul of an Angel | Drayden Van Dyke | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | C2 Racing Stable LLC and Agave Racing Stable | 1:23.23 |
| 2023 | Three Witches | Leonel Reyes | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | e Five Racing Thoroughbreds | 1:22.89 |
| 2022 | Ce Ce | Victor Espinoza | Michael W. McCarthy | Bo Hirsch | 1:22.20 |
| 2021 | Ce Ce | Victor Espinoza | Michael W. McCarthy | Bo Hirsch | 1:21.94 |
| 2020 | Race Not Held | ||||
This weekend, he looks for a third consecutive victory, and his triple entry makes the Princess Rooney betting landscape a maze of possibilities. As you look to bet on Princess Rooney, you are not just betting on a horse, but on the strategic prowess of one of the sport's most successful young trainers.
The seven-furlong distance at Gulfstream is a true test of speed and stamina, and the 2025 Princess Rooney field offers a diverse group of runners who each bring a unique skill set to the table. Beyond the Joseph trio, the competition is fierce, and we must analyze them closely to fully appreciate the tactical genius behind Saffie Joseph Jr.'s decision to run three horses.
Trained by Jose Francisco D'Angelo, he is a formidable competitor. She enters the race with a recent victory in the Sheer Drama Handicap at Gulfstream, where she convincingly beat Haulin Ice. Her win was not a fluke; she showed a powerful closing kick, rallying from off the pace to win by a comfortable margin. Her form is sharp, and the seven-furlong distance suits her perfectly. With the race likely to feature a solid pace, she is a serious threat to run down the leaders in the stretch.
A three-year-old filly from the barn of Gustavo Delgado is another fascinating entry. She enters this race on a two-race winning streak, but she faces a significant class test, taking on older, more experienced fillies and mares for the first time. Her last win in the Tyson Gilpin Stakes was impressive, but the competition she faced there was not at the Grade 3 level. This race will reveal if she is a true graded stakes contender or if the leap in class is too much for her at this stage of her career. A strong showing here would put her on the map, and her potential makes her a tempting option for exotic wagers.
Round out the field, both bringing their own credentials to the table. Nerazurri, a veteran filly with multiple starts in graded company, consistently puts in an honest effort and will look to pick up the pieces if the early pace is too hot. Gallop d'Hermes, while a longshot on paper, can outrun her odds on her best day. While these two might not be the favorites in a seven-horse field, they possess the potential to factor in the outcome and could offer a big payout if they hit the board.
Saffie Joseph Jr. is not just entering horses; he is implementing a meticulously calculated strategy. By running three of his best fillies in a single race, he significantly increases his chances of a victory and a lucrative "Win and You're In" spot. This isn't about running four horses against each other; it's about giving himself the best possible chance to win.
His barn is deep with talent, and he has a track record of success with this approach. His horses are not simply entered as a block; they each have a specific role to play. He understands the unique abilities of each filly and has chosen this race as the ideal spot for them to shine. He has already secured two consecutive wins in this race with different horses, a testament to his tactical mind and the caliber of his stable.
Haulin Ice is arguably Saffie Joseph’s best chance for a third consecutive Princess Rooney win. A Grade 3 winner herself, she comes into this race after having a four-race winning streak snapped in the Sheer Drama Handicap. Joseph himself has acknowledged that her last loss was likely due to the burdensome 127-pound handicap she was forced to carry. He knows his horse and her capabilities, and with the weight spread now far more favorable, he expects a bounce-back performance.
Haulin Ice is a front-running filly who likes to dictate the pace. She has shown incredible grit and determination, with four of her nine career wins coming in stakes company. Her victory in the Grade 3 Vagrancy at Aqueduct proved she can compete with top-level competition outside of Florida. Her main question mark is the seven-furlong distance, where she has only one win in five attempts. However, Joseph believes she has what it takes, and her recent works suggest she is primed for a big effort. If she breaks sharply and finds her rhythm on the front end, she will be challenging to catch. The Princess Rooney betting public will certainly gravitate toward her, given her resume and the fact that she is a proven Grade 3 winner.
Ultimate Authority is a fascinating and mysterious entry in the Princess Rooney series. She will make her first start for Saffie Joseph Jr. and her first start in over four months. Her last race was a distant third-place finish in the Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita, a two-turn race going 1 1/16 miles. Her two career wins came at a mile, which raises the question of whether she will be effective sprinting seven furlongs. Joseph has an answer for this. He noted that she has been training well and showing good speed in her recent works at Palm Meadows Training Center. He believes her pedigree, being by Practical Joke, suggests she could be effective at this distance.
Joseph is not just running her for the sake of it; he sees a significant upside. She has competitive figures on paper, and if she can translate her training to the racetrack, she could shock the field. This race is a chance for her to prove she belongs in the upper echelon of female sprinters. Joseph is taking a strategic chance here, and with so much to gain and little to lose, she represents a high-risk, high-reward play for anyone looking to make a calculated bet on Princess Rooney.
Claret Beret is the third leg of the Joseph wager and a filly with immense potential who is looking for a bounce-back performance. She had a sensational run in her first two starts for Joseph’s barn, winning an overnight handicap by a jaw-dropping 19 ¾ lengths and then finishing a close second in the Grade 2 Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs. Her form was undeniable, and she looked like a filly on the rise.
However, her last race was a massive disappointment, as she finished sixth and was beaten by 25 lengths in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga. Joseph has been perplexed by her poor showing, and while he noted a minor issue with a runny nose, he has no major excuse for the performance. This race is a chance for redemption. He is hoping she can regain the form that made her a legitimate contender in her previous starts. If the real Claret Beret shows up on Saturday, she is undoubtedly a live longshot. Her previous second-place finish to Grade 1 winner Vahva shows she can compete with the best, and a return to that form would make her a serious threat to the favorites. The Princess Rooney betting odds on Claret Beret will likely be generous, making her the perfect play for a deep-pocketed gambler looking for a big score.
Saffie Joseph Jr.'s decision to scratch Mystic Lake from the Princess Rooney is the most talked-about storyline leading up to the race. Mystic Lake, a winner of four straight races, including the Pink Ribbon Stakes in her last outing, was a formidable presence. She was the morning-line favorite and looked poised to be the star of the show. So, why would a trainer pull the best horse from a prestigious, "Win and You're In" race? The answer lies in Joseph's strategic genius and his understanding of his horses.
Mystic Lake has been cross-entered in the Liberty Bell Stakes at Parx, a race where she will likely face a different set of competitors and a potentially easier path to victory. For Joseph, it's about making the best long-term decision for his filly. He has other viable contenders in the Princess Rooney, and by saving Mystic Lake for a different spot, he gives himself a high probability of winning both races. This move shows his confidence in his remaining three fillies and his commitment to his horses' careers, not just one-off victories.
In the end, Saffie Joseph Jr.'s decision to run three fillies in the 2025 Princess Rooney Invitational is a masterclass in modern horse racing strategy. It's not about being greedy; it's about maximizing his chances of winning a key Breeders' Cup qualifier and increasing the value of his stable's assets.
He has three fillies with different running styles and varying levels of fitness, each with a legitimate shot to win. Whether it's the proven class of Haulin Ice, the intriguing potential of Ultimate Authority, or the rebound-seeking Claret Beret, Joseph has every angle covered. His tactical deployment of these fillies makes the Princess Rooney a must-watch event and a prime opportunity to make a winning wager. Don’t just follow the favorites; think like the trainer and seize the opportunity to be part of the most captivating betting story of the weekend.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
