In the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct, Calumet Farm's Gin Gin secured a victory on her path to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, while Princess Mayfair, owned by Joe DeMarinis and trained by Steven Chircop, finished a commendable second. Princess Mayfair, a Woodbine-based filly, had previously won a maiden race at Woodbine and was making her dirt debut in New York.
Date: January 12-13 2024
However, Princess Mayfair encountered issues during her journey to New York, as the van transporting her broke down. She was returned to Penn National, but arrangements were swiftly made to get her to Aqueduct for the race. Despite these challenges, she delivered a strong performance.
Gin Gin's victory earned her 20 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Oaks, while Princess Mayfair earned 10 points for her second-place finish. Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Trevor McCarthy, Gin Gin rebounded from a previous fifth-place finish in the Golden Rod to secure her victory.
Princess Mayfair, ridden by Dylan Davis, displayed a strong start but was ultimately overtaken by Gin Gin in the race. Despite her determined effort, Gin Gin's momentum led to a one-length victory.
Looking ahead, Gin Gin is likely to target the 1 1/8-mile Gazelle Stakes on April 6, while Princess Mayfair may consider the Gazelle Stakes on March 2, possibly with an allowance race start before that. Chircop expressed confidence in Princess Mayfair's potential for future races, emphasizing that they didn't enter the race just to participate.