Princess Bettina took the lead right out of the starting gate and never looked back on her way to cruising to a four-length victory in the Listed China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, 18 March.
The three-year-old daughter of Will Take Charge, who was making just her seventh career start, earned her first Stakes victory in the China Doll. She entered the race off a close third-place finish in the Listed Lady of Shamrock Stakes in February.
Ridden confidently by Frankie Dettori, Princess Bettina took the lead right out of the starting gate. Allowed to set an easy pace throughout, Princess Bettina began to widen her lead on the far turn and quickly put the race to bed, drawing off through the stretch to win by four.
Racing as a homebred for Donald R. Dizney, Princess Bettina was bred in Florida and is out of the unraced mare, Aiden’s Girl. Aiden’s Girl is a full sister to multiple Stakes winner Flora Dora, winner of the Busanda Stakes and third in the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks. Aiden’s Girl is also a half-sister to Stakes winner Lindisfarne.
Will Take Charge is standing his first season at Darley Japan in 2023. Winner of the Eclipse Award as Champion 3-year-old colt in 2013, he is the sire of There Goes Harvard, winner of the 2022 G1 Hollywood Gold Cup and G1 Kentucky Oaks third-place finisher, Will’s Secret.
