By Tom LaMarra
Four-time grade I winner Princess of Sylmar, a winner of more than $2 million, was retired Sept. 19, King of Prussia Stable managing partner Ed Stanco said.
The 4-year-old filly by Majestic Warrior out of the Catienus mare Storm Dixie finished an uncharacteristic fifth in her last start Aug. 22 in the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course. After the race she was diagnosed with a case of thumps, or irregular spasms of the diaphragm.
Princess of Sylmar, bred in Pennsylvania by Stanco, broke her maiden at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course at 2, and at 3 won the Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks, Alabama Stakes, and Beldame Invitational (all gr. I) in succession. This year she finished second in two grade I events, the Ogden Phipps and Delaware Handicap, before the Personal Ensign.
“We were with her from birth and watched her grow up to be one of the finest fillies in the world,” Stanco said. “Now she will enter the next phase of her life. The Princess was a blessing beyond once in a lifetime, and she has provided our partners, families, friends, and racing fans with unparalleled joy.”
Stanco credited adviser Joe Brocklebank; Ron and Betsy Houghton, who raised the filly at their Sylmar Farm in Pennsylvania; trainer Todd Pletcher; and the jockeys who rode her for her success.
After the Personal Ensign there were plans to continue racing Princess of Sylmar, but she didn’t progress quickly enough, according to her connections.
“Preparing her for her next race was taking longer than I expected,” Pletcher said. “Because she will miss this year’s running of the Beldame and the (Juddmonte) Spinster (gr. I), Ed and I decided that timing is such that we decided to retire her.”
Princess of Sylmar earned $2,017,220 on a record of nine wins and three seconds in 15 starts. Her other three stakes wins came in the 2013 Busanda and Busher and 2014 Cat Cay, all at Aqueduct Racetrack.