2-time graded stakes winner Pattys Saint heads the $60,000 Miss Princess Handicap [G3] at Los Alamitos on Sunday.

© Coady Photography

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–MAY 3, 2024– Dunn Ranch’s Pattys Saint, a two-time Grade 1 stakes winner at Los Alamitos, will face the red-hot multiple stakes winner mare AJ Born Runnin and six other top mares in the running of the Grade 3, $60,000 Miss Princess Handicap at 350 yards on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Pattys Saint loves running in stakes races at the Orange County oval. The 6-year-old mare won the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap in 2022 and then the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap earlier this year. She also ran second in the Grade 2 Las Damas Handicap while also racing in the prestigious Grade 1 Champion of Champions.

In her career, Pattys Saint has been a winner everywhere she’s gone. She’s won 18 of 26 career starts and won the Grade 1 AQHA Distaff Challenge at The Downs at Albuquerque in 2021. She’ll be going after her 14th career stakes win, a lot of those coming in the Intermountain region. Eduardo Nicasio gets the return call on Monty Arrossa from post number six.

Her chief rival looks to be P & J Racing’s AJ Born Runnin, who has tremendous in her last two starts, winning the Denim N Diamonds on February 24 and then the Virginia Hyland on March 13. AJ Born Runnin will also look for a little revenge on Pattys Saint after running fourth in the Charger Bar. Armando Cervantes will pilot the Jaime Gomez-trainee from post two. A daughter of Apollitical Jess, the gray mare has won five races from 18 career starts.

Manuel Alvarez’s Gotta Corona Jess has been a strong performer in the distaff division this year. A stakes winner in the past, she’s been knocking on the door of stakes win this year, running third in the Denim N Diamonds and then second in the Virginia Hyland. Sylencer, Jessica Cruz, who’ll be ridden by returning Oscar Andrade, Jr., Forever Dynasty, Budder Off Friends and Remember Her will complete the field.

One of the storylines in this race is the return of jockey Oscar Andrade Jr. The young rider enjoyed much success here a few years ago and will be in action in this race after piloting at the top out of California tracks.