LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, June 29, 2012) – Becky Winemiller’s Wine Princess, a 3-year-old chestnut daughter of Ghostzapper out of the champion Azeri, battled with pacesetter Yankee Union down the Churchill Downs stretch, took the lead just after the eighth-pole and then drew clear in the $58,543 Friday night feature beneath the Twin Spires.

Yankee Union led the field of six fillies and mares through fractions of :23.39, :47.45 and 1:11.95 while Wine Princess rated a length back in second under Shaun Bridgmohan. Wine Princess drew even with Yankee Union entering the stretch and the two challenged for the lead for a furlong before Wine Princess got a clear advantage and then kicked clear to win in going-away fashion by 2 ½ lengths over Tapit Dancer, who rallied for second.

Trained by Steve Margolis, Wine Princess improved her record to 2-1-0 from four starts and her earnings increased to $78,238 with Friday’s check of $35,880. Her other victory also came on the Churchill Downs oval when she broke her maiden on the Kentucky Oaks Day undercard.

Wine Princess was heavily-favored at odds of 4-5 and returned $3.80, $2.60 and $2.40. Tapit Dancer, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., was second and returned $5.40 and $3.60 with Yankee Union, under the Spring Meet’s leading rider Corey Lanerie, finishing another 1 ½ lengths back in third and returning $2.80 to show.

Racing continues Saturday with a special 11-race “Downs After Dark” Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka racing program that will feature the 111th running of the Bashford Manor (Grade III). Post time for the first race is 6:30 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Bashford Manor is scheduled as Race 6 at 9 p.m. The Pick 6, with a carryover of $6,077, includes Races 6-11.