Unheralded Princess of Sylmar Beats a Star-Studded Kentucky Oaks Field LOUISVILLE - Princess of Sylmar, overlooked among the galaxy of stars trained by Todd Pletcher, launched a prolonged rally to overtake Beholder by one-half length and pull a stunning upset in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs. Beholder, last year's juvenile filly champion, appeared to take command when she surged past weakening pacesetter Midnight Lucky around the final turn. But Princess of Sylmar, sent off as the second-longest shot in the field at 38-1, used the long Churchill Downs stretch to advantage. She ate into Beholder's lead with every stride and ultimately overtook her for jockey Mike Smith. Dreaming of Julia, who had been so highly regarded that some suggested she run against colts in the Kentucky Derby, was jostled at the start, closed late, but could get no closer than fourth. "That did it all, right from the start," said her jockey, John Velazquez. She got pinched out of there and the race was over. Princess of Sylmar, a Pennsylvania-bred, had not competed in a Grade 1 event before this. Owner Ed Stanco said he debated whether to run her in the Oaks or in the Black-Eyed Susan, which serves as a prelude to the Preakness Stakes. Given the abundant early speed that figured to be in the Oaks and his filly's late kick, Stanco decided the prestigious Oaks was worth a shot. Princess of Sylmar was a runnerup to Close Hatches in the Grade 2 Gazelle in her previous start on April 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Stanco's gamble that she would improve on that effort was richly rewarded. First place was worth $600,000. Pletcher admitted the result blindsided him. "I handicapped the race the same way as everybody else," Pletcher said. "The one thing I said is, "If they go fast early, this filly wouldn't shock me if she won." " Midnight Lucky tore through an opening quarter of a mile in 22.84 seconds, continued to hum along with half a mile in 46.79 seconds and covered three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.34 for jockey Rafael Bejarano. The winning time was 1:49.17. The race could not have set up better for the victor. "She was taking me everywhere I wanted to go," Smith said. It was a matter of whether she was good enough to get there, and she certainly was. The field was viewed as one of the deepest in the 139-year history of the race. Eight of the 10 starters owned graded stakes victories. Seven of them had won their previous start. Unlimited Budget, Close Hatches and Midnight Lucky had all been undefeated.