Pattys Saint, under jockey Eduardo Nicasio, won the Grade 3 $60,000 Miss Princess Handicap at Los Alamitos Race Course Sunday night.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–MAY 5, 2024–Dunn Ranch's Pattys Saint, the queen of the Intermountain region, scored her third graded stakes win at Los Alamitos after taking the Grade 3, $60,000 Miss Princess Handicap by a length on Saturday night.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio for trainer Monty Arrossa, Pattys Saint left the starting gate from post number six, was bumped at the start, but then her rocket boosters kicked in as they usually do, and she took off to the lead.

It was business as usual for Pattys Saint from there, as the 6-year-old Idaho mare never looked back in route to her 19th victory AND 14th in  a stakes race in 27 career starts. The daughter of Jess Got Easier also added the Miss Princess to her wins in the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap, which he recorded on January 7, and in the 2022 Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap.

One of the best distaffers to come of the Intermountain region in the past decade, the R.L. Harrison-bred Pattys Saint has won 10 other stakes races, most of them coming at racetracks in Idaho and Wyoming. She also won the Grade 1 AQHA Distaff Challenge Championship at The Downs at Albuquerque and won a stakes race at Grants Pass.

Winning trainer Monty Arrossa, jockey Eduardo Nicasio and owners Bendi and Matt Dunn accept the Miss Princess Handicap stakes trophy. © Amber Mendez

 In her Miss Princess victory, Pattys Saint covered the 350 yards in :17.611 while earning $33,000 for the win.

Purchased by Dunn Ranch last year from the  Harrison family, Pattys Saint has now earned $350,652 in her career.

"She's just a great horse," said Matt Dunn. "These horses come just once in a lifetime. A mare like this, she just keeps getting stronger. She's sound and just does her job every time. She's really fun to watch and it'll be fun to see what the future has in store for her. Our plan is to (keep racing) her this year, improve her record and make her a broodmare for the future. The plan for her is to stay with Dunn Ranch. That's the future. We're going to breed her and try to make babies better than her."

Pattys Saint's racing future could include the $100,000 Abigail Kawananakoa on June 15 and the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels in September. Having already won the Mildred Vessels two years ago, Pattys Saint will look to become only the fifth runner to win the Mildred Vessels more than once and the first to do so in non-consecutive runnings. Flare For Toby in last horse to win multiple runnings of the Mildred Vessels when she took the 2000 and 2001 runnings.    

"We're leaving her schedule in Monty's hands," Dunn said. "She'll tell us what she's ready to run in. We're going to take it easy on her and pick and choose and do what's right for the horse always and see where that goes. Ultimately, if she can make it to the Champion of Champions that would be amazing."

Pattys Saint ran in the 50th running of the Champion of Champions in 2022. 

Gary Laramie's Jessica Cruz finished second in the Miss Princess at 32-1 odds. Ridden by Oscar Andrade, Jr. for trainer Elena Andrade, Jessica Cruz earned $13,500 for her runner-up effort. The 4-year-old daughter of four-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty is out of Jess Cruz by Mr Jess Perry.

David Hinkins' Budder Off Friends, who was the longest shot on the board at 34-1, finished third with Rodrigo Aceves up for trainer Adan Farias. The PCQHRA champion 3-year-old filly last year, Budder Off Friends earned $7,500.  She is also by FDD Dynasty from the Strawflyin Buds mare Budderfly Effect.

Remember Her, Forever Dynasty, AJ Born Runnin, Gotta Corona Jess and Sylencer completed the field.

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