The second race on Saturday, October 10, 2026, marks the annual renewal of the Princess Popstar Trophy, a race tailored for two-year-olds who are non-winners of three races, traveling over a distance of 5 ½ furlongs.
This event holds special significance as it marks the first occasion in the 2026 juvenile season that the two-year-olds will be racing around the turn. A compact field of five runners has been entered to contest the trophy, featuring a single imported foreigner alongside four talented locally bred competitors.
The Quick Galloper’s take on the possible outcome and runner-by-runner breakdown is detailed below.
1 – BOSS OVER BOSS
- Details: Two-year-old chestnut colt (March 6) by Bern Identity out of Woman Is Boss
- Trainer: Jason DaCosta
- Jockey: Robert Halledeen
- Equipment Change: Tongue tie on, and first time Lasix
Holds the distinction of winning the very first two-year-old race of the 2026 season. Boss Over Boss returns here with significant equipment changes and has been putting in strong workouts since that August 8 debut. He shows all the hallmarks of being a potentially good runner in the making.
2 – LEELA’S CHOICE
- Details: Two-year-old bay filly (March 11) by Sir Alton out of Antoinette
- Trainer: Jason DaCosta
- Jockey: Calvin Bailey
After two career starts, it is evident that Leela’s Choice is still some distance away from breaking her maiden. She looks set to be merely making up the numbers in this line-up.
3 – SOORYAVANSHI
- Details: Two-year-old chestnut filly (March 1) by Successful Native out of Coco Chanel
- Trainer: Anthony Nunes
- Jockey: Raddesh Roman
Was defeated by Boss Over Boss on her debut before bouncing back to visit the winner's enclosure next time out. Now equipped with valuable racing experience and solid morning track reports, she will undoubtedly be a deciding factor in the outcome.
4 – MANDY
- Details: Two-year-old chestnut filly (May 16) by Whiskey Double out of Lady Blue
- Trainer: Marvin Campbell
- Jockey: Shaheem Gordon
The most experienced runner in this field with four starts to her credit. Unfortunately, across those four outings, Mandy has not given any indication that winning is even a remote possibility.
5 – BIRTHDAY KING (USA)
- Details: Two-year-old chestnut colt (April 24) by Kantharos out of Always Kitten
- Trainer: Jason DaCosta
- Jockey: Tevin Foster
- Equipment Change: Tongue tie on, first-time Lasix
Birthday King carries the flag as the lone foreign-bred contender in the Princess Popstar. A winner on debut over three furlongs, though in a slightly slower time than stablemate Boss Over Boss, morning reports suggest he has progressed nicely and is expected to play a major determining role in the finish.
The Leading Contenders: Stablemates Boss Over Boss and Birthday King (USA) bring high-class credentials from Jason DaCosta's barn, both benefiting from first-time Lasix and tongue tie equipment changes. Boss Over Boss proved his class winning the season's opening juvenile race, while Birthday King is an intriguing foreign-bred winner who has progressed sharply in the mornings. Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi enters with proven winning experience after bouncing back from her debut defeat against Boss Over Boss, making her a dangerous threat.
