GII Santa Margarita : Princess Of Time in with upset chance

The key principles in Sunday’s GII Santa Margarita are 6-5 favorite Splendora and Seismic Beauty (3-1), both trained by Bob Baffert; and graded stakes winners Where’s My Ring (5-2) and Alpha Bella (5-1). But if you ask trainer Michael McCarthy, the contention doesn’t end there. He believes his filly, 12-1 longshot Princess of Time, is also in with a legitimate chance.

“I think she fits with these,” McCarthy said Saturday.

Princess of Time most recently returned from a 12-plus month layoff against males in a second-level allowance going a mile on March 28 at Santa Anita. The 5-year-old mare by Not This Time pressed the pace that day and finished evenly to be third behind winner Il Bellator, who returns in Monday’s GII Hollywood Gold Cup; and runner-up Bartholdy, who is Grade III-placed.

“Unfortunately, we had to run her against the boys off an extended layoff, but I thought her race was very respectable,” McCarthy said. “Now we’re going to try a mile and an eighth. She’ll need to show she can handle the distance, but I don’t think she needs to step forward from an ability standpoint.”

Princess of Time was ridden by then apprentice Serafin Carmona in her comeback but will have Kazushi Kimura in the irons on Sunday. They will break from post two in a field of six, though that number could be reduced. Where’s My Ring is entered in both the Santa Margarita and Monday’s GI Gamely on turf. On Saturday morning, trainer Peter Miller said Where’s My Ring would be scratched from the Gamely and could also be withdrawn from the Santa Margarita in favor of an alternative spot.

The Santa Margarita goes as the third race Sunday on a 10-race card that starts at 4 p.m. Post time is set for 5:05 p.m. The field in post position order: Liberal Lady, Assael Espinoza (30-1); Princess of Time, Kazushi Kimura (12-1); Where’s My Ring, Mike Smith (5-2); Splendora, Juan Hernandez (6-5); Alpha Bella, Umberto Rispoli (5-1); Seismic Beauty, Antonio Fresu (3-1).