Four-year-old American-bred chestnut filly Catalina Princess scored her first win on local soil with an encouraging effort in the opening race on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

The race was a $750,000 Restricted Allowance contest for four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) and imported four-year-olds and upward (maidens) over 5 furlongs round.

Trained by Dalton Sirjue and ridden by Dane Dawkins, Catalina Princess (Catalina Cruiser – Secretary) won the race by a length and three quarters in a time of 1:01.2 (24.2 x 48.3).

Breaking well at the start, Catalina Princess settled into third place behind Nerissa’s Angel (Javaniel Patterson) and Pineapple (Robert Halledeen) entering the half-mile turn. However, she gained momentum navigating the home bend, hugging the inside rails and cutting the turn to set herself up for a strong finish.

When urged by Dawkins inside the final furlong, Catalina Princess responded powerfully, easily outpacing Pineapple and Adira (Demar Williams) to claim her first victory on local soil.

— Ruddy Allen