Kerrys Kiss - The Sheer Drama - Credit Ryan Thompson
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL — Saffie Joseph Jr. has turned the Princess Rooney (G3) into familiar territory, and on Saturday the South Florida-based trainer will attempt to extend an impressive streak when he sends out three contenders in the $225,000 event at Gulfstream Park.
Joseph is seeking his fourth consecutive victory in the seven-furlong race for fillies and mares, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifier that guarantees the winner a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), scheduled for Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
His three-pronged attack consists of Kerry’s Kiss, Indy Bay and Anakarina, each bringing a different profile into the 40th running of one of Gulfstream’s most important races for female sprinters.
Joseph’s recent dominance began with Three Witches in 2023, followed by Soul of an Angel in 2024 and Haulin Ice in 2025. Soul of an Angel took the achievement one step further, using her Princess Rooney victory as a springboard to Breeders’ Cup glory and an Eclipse Award championship.
Kerry’s Kiss arrives on a roll
Among Joseph’s trio, Kerry’s Kiss enters Saturday in particularly strong form while chasing a four-race winning streak of her own.
The 4-year-old daughter of Vino Rosso won a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance at Oaklawn Park in April before joining Joseph’s Gulfstream operation. Since then, she has been perfect, capturing the 6 1/2-furlong Musical Romance by 2 3/4 lengths on June 22 before adding the seven-furlong Sheer Drama by 1 1/2 lengths on Aug. 15.
The addition of blinkers and a move to one-turn racing appear to have unlocked another level.
“Mark Cornett bought her for the ownership group. We wanted to cut her back to a one-turn mile. The race never went so we ran her a bit shorter,” Joseph said. “It turned out one turn is the right thing. She handled the 6 1/2 and 7 very good. I think cutting her back and putting on the blinkers has helped her.”
Installed as the 5-2 second choice on the morning line, Kerry’s Kiss will once again be partnered by Edwin Gonzalez.
“She’s in good form. She’s going to need to run one of her good races again to get the job done,” Joseph added. “She seems like she’s trained well enough to be able to win back.”
Indy Bay gets another opportunity
Stablemate Indy Bay will attempt to reverse the recent results against Kerry’s Kiss after finishing second to her in both the Musical Romance and Sheer Drama.
The 4-year-old daughter of Take Charge Indy is already a graded stakes winner, having captured the seven-furlong Charles Town Oaks (G2) last season.
Joseph believes Saturday’s pace scenario could give Indy Bay a better opportunity.
“The first time they met Indy gave her five pounds. The second time they met it got closer in the weights but Kerry’s Kiss still beat her quite decisively,” Joseph said. “If you want to give Indy an excuse that day, a couple horses scratched and Kerry’s Kiss was lone speed. This race looks like it has much more speed, so that would help Indy Bay.”
“On the right day, Indy Bay could turn the tables.”
Micah Husbands retains the mount aboard the 3-1 third choice.
Seven furlongs the question for Anakarina
Joseph’s third contender, Anakarina, brings speed—and an important distance question.
The 4-year-old daughter of Vekoma enters off a front-running victory in the six-furlong Love Sign Stakes at Colonial Downs. Saturday’s seven furlongs will test how far that speed can carry her.
“For Anakarina this is a big question mark for her. Does she really want to go seven?” Joseph said. “She’s speed and her stamina can be a question mark. We’re going to give it a shot. Hopefully, her speed carries.”
Rasheed Hughes will ride Anakarina, listed at 9-2.
Simply Joking brings Grade 1 credentials from California
Joseph, however, will have to overcome another trainer with an impressive Princess Rooney résumé.
Michael McCarthy, winner of the race with Ce Ce in both 2021 and 2022, sends out Simply Joking, the 8-5 morning-line favorite.
Ce Ce also captured the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and McCarthy hopes the Princess Rooney can once again provide a pathway to the World Championships.
Simply Joking has spent her recent starts competing around two turns in Southern California. The 4-year-old daughter of Practical Joke dominated the 1 1/16-mile Santa Maria (G3) at Santa Anita by 6 3/4 lengths in April before finishing second in the Santa Margarita (G2).
Most recently, she finished third in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar after setting a pressured pace into the stretch.
“This is a nice race at the right time of year for her. I like the spacing. Hopefully, she runs to her training,” McCarthy said. “Maybe this will find her in a race like the Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland.”
The cutback to seven furlongs is not unfamiliar territory. Simply Joking closed her 2025 campaign with a third-place finish in the seven-furlong La Brea (G1) at Santa Anita.
Juan Hernandez will ride her for the first time Saturday.
“There looks like there’s some speed inside of us so I’ll tell Juan Hernandez, ‘Bound out of there and see what unfolds inside of you and also take nothing away from her if it comes easily,’” McCarthy said.
International flavor and new connections
The Princess Rooney field also includes Bombacha Veloz, a multiple Group 1 winner in Chile who will make her highly anticipated U.S. debut.
The 4-year-old Chilean-bred filly, trained by Amador Sanchez, is listed at 10-1 and will have Rajiv Maragh aboard.
No Bad Beats, meanwhile, makes her first start for Southern California-based trainer Leonard Powell after being claimed for $50,000 following a 3 3/4-length allowance victory at Del Mar on Aug. 9.
Previously trained by Doug O’Neill, the daughter of Midnight Storm earned graded stakes credentials earlier this year when second in the Las Flores (G3). Gulfstream Royal Palm Meet riding champion Diego Herrera gets the assignment aboard the 12-1 chance.
Completing the field is Just a Philly, third behind Kerry’s Kiss and Indy Bay in both the Musical Romance and Sheer Drama. Trained by Herbert Miller, the daughter of Girvin is listed at 20-1 with Samy Camacho aboard.
A ticket to Keeneland on the line
Saturday’s Princess Rooney represents much more than another graded stakes trophy.
With an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint awaiting the winner, the race could identify another major player for Keeneland—and recent history suggests Gulfstream’s seven-furlong test deserves plenty of attention.
For Joseph, the opportunity is particularly significant. Three consecutive Princess Rooney victories have already established a remarkable run of dominance. With Kerry’s Kiss, Indy Bay and Anakarina, he now has three chances to make it four.
And if recent history is any indication, the road from Gulfstream Park to the Breeders’ Cup could once again prove very important.
About The Author
