Francesca LeDonne Photo

Ice Princess looks to reign supreme in $100K Maddie May

by Ryan Martin

Following a decisive triumph against New York-bred counterparts last out, Ice Princess will see familiar faces as the likely favorite in Sunday's fifth running of the $100,000 Maddie May at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The one-turn mile over the main track for Empire State-bred 3-year-old fillies is named in honor of So Madcapt Stable's three-time stakes winner who banked a total of $408,551. Bred in the Empire State by Roger Toffolon, the daughter of Not For Love won the Maid of the Mist, Iroquois and Schenectady in her 19-race career for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Owned by R.A. Hill Stable in partnership with Corms Racing and Flying P Stable, Ice Princess arrives off a 4 ½-length triumph at the Big A in a first level New York-bred allowance race. Racing from off the pace, Ice Princess made a four-wide move around the turn, powered past the field and crossed the wire in hand as the overwhelming favorite.

The win came off a 3 ½-month layoff, with her prior effort taking place in the Grade 1 Frizette, where she displayed a similar come-from-behind running style but flattened out in mid stretch and finished fourth for trainer Danny Gargan.

"We think highly of her," said R.A. Hill Stable's Randy Hill. "I talked to Danny and he said that she's doing better than she ever has been. I think that in the Frizette she may have been a little bit short. If she's up against some of the same ones she was last time then she should be the one to beat. We've got high hopes for her."

Hill said a strong effort out of the daughter of second-crop stallion Palace Malice would mean a return to open company with the $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks on March 14 at Turfway Park as a possibility. Also run at one mile, the Bourbonette offers 20-8-4-2 points to the top four finishers.

"She's nominated to the Bourbonette at Turfway so we'd like to try and get some Kentucky Oaks points with her," Hill said.

Bred by Mina Equivest, Ice Princess is out of the stakes winning Awesome Again broodmare Happy Clapper and was a $75,000 acquisition from the Summerfield consignment at the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Saratoga Yearling Sale in 2018.

Regular pilot Manny Franco seeks his second stakes win of the meet as he guides Ice Princess from post 2.

Lianna Stables' Myawaya, second to Ice Princess last out, will look to turn the tables on her familiar foe.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the chestnut daughter of second crop sire Wicked Strong graduated third time out going 6 ½ furlongs over the Big A main track on November 10 before her last out second-place effort.

Myawaya, bred by Anlyn Farms, was purchased for $45,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment barn at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale. She is out of the Mr. Greeley broodmare Gracilia, making her a half-sister to More Mischief, who won the Biogio's Rose earlier in the month.

Myawaya will be piloted by meet leading rider and seven-time stakes winner this meet Jose Lezcano from post 4.

WellSpring Stables' Holmdel Park was third, beaten five lengths in the same allowance event and will break from post 5.

Trained by Jimmy Ryerson, the homebred D'Funnybone chestnut tracked the pace in fourth from the rail, went wide at the top of the stretch but was unable to catch Ice Princess, finishing five lengths behind.

Holmdel Park is out of the Stormy Atlantic broodmare Camille's Storm, who is a full sister to dual graded stakes winner on dirt Stormy's Majesty as well as Dream Passage, who is stakes-placed on turf.

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who piloted Dublin Girl to victory in the 2017 Maddie May, has the mount.

Nicky Scissors takes things up a notch following an outstanding 10 ½-length romp in a second out graduation on January 20 at the Big A.

Nicky Scissors is owned by Michael Dubb in partnership with Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group, Sol Kumin and Jason Monteleone's Madaket Stable and Michael Caruso's Bethlehem Stables. The gray daughter of Mission Impazible, trained by Jason Servis, broke alertly from the gate in her maiden score, set moderate fractions, repelled her competition and drew off when asked.

Bred by Small Batch Thoroughbreds, Nicky Scissors is out of the Super Saver broodmare Mott N Hester and was purchased for $110,000 from the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Saratoga Yearling Sale in 2018.

Jockey Eric Cancel will pilot Nicky Scissors from the rail.

Rounding out the field is Courageous Girl who will look to make amends following a distant fifth behind Ice Princess last out. Owned and bred by Brady Horse Racing and Brusba V Stables, the daughter of Bourbon Courage broke her maiden at sixth asking going one mile by 4 ½ lengths over next out winner My My Michelle.

Trained by David Donk, Courageous Girl will be ridden by four-time stakes winner this meet, Dylan Davis.

The Maddie May is scheduled as Race 7 on Sunday's eight-race card. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern. Sunday's eight-race program at Aqueduct Racetrack also features a mandatory payout of the Empire 6, which boasted a jackpot of $58,824 heading into Thursday's card.