Saturday’s Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale Stakes (USA-G2) scratched down to a five-horse field that contained three fillies with graded black type and two that had only maiden wins to their credit. The race turned out to be quite formful. Moving forward off her seasonal debut in the Forward Gal Stakes (USA-G3), in which she was third, 2024 Adirondack Stakes (USA-G2) winner The Queens M G stalked early, took control in the upper stretch, and never looked back as she won by 2¾ lengths. 2024 Pocahontas Stakes (USA-G3) victress La Cara, a last-out winner of the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa, recovered from hitting the gate to get the place, and 2024 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2) runner-up Ballerina d’Oro closed to finish a nose behind La Cara.
All three placers would need to improve substantially off this performance to be up with the best fillies in the sophomore division. The time was 1:37.85 for a mile on a fast track, and while Gulfstream does not have a particularly quick surface, a final quarter-mile in :25.53 is not overly encouraging. Still, spring is often a season of rapid change for 3-year-olds, and all of these fillies should have a chance to get another prep in before their connections make a decision about going to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1).
For The Queens M G, the question will be how much further she can develop. Had she run to the form she showed in her maiden victory, a 4½ furlong dash at Keeneland that saw her awarded a 97 Equibase figure, she would be among the best of this year’s sophomore misses. But in seven starts since then, she has only once run back within 10 points of that form, this while winning the 6-furlong Schuylerville Stakes. That does not bode well for stretching out to 9 furlongs two months from now against the likes of Tenma and Good Cheer.
That being said, many a trainer would be more than happy to have The Queens M G in the barn whether she proves to be Oaks material or not. There are worse things to have occupying one of one’s stalls than a multiple graded stakes winner who seems to have the makings of a capable sprinter.
The Queens M G’s success at Keeneland made her the first winner credited to multiple graded stakes winner Thousand Words (by Pioneerof the Nile), whose marquee wins came in the 2019 Los Alamitos Futurity (USA-G2) and 2020 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (USA-G3). Produced from multiple Grade 2 sprint winner Pomeroys Pistol (whose sire, Pomeroy, was a multiple Grade 1 winner over sprint distances), Thousand Words is also the sire of 2024 stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1) runner-up Vodka With a Twist and of Puerto Rican Grade 3 winner Caribbean Gal.
The Queens M G is the second foal and second winner produced from Show Queen, a daughter of 1996 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Grindstone. Show Queen, in turn, is out of Talent Queen (by the world-record-setting miler Elusive Quality), who is a half sister to 2006 Sorrento Stakes (USA-G3) winner Untouched Talent (by Storm Cat), juvenile stakes winner King Gulch (by Gulch), and Saudi Arabian champion Obay (by Kingmambo).
Talent Queen’s dam, multiple Grade 3 winner Parade Queen (by A.P. Indy), was something of an anomaly among the better horses coming from this family in that she did not reach her best form until late in her 3-year-old season and was at her best around two turns on turf. The female line traces back to 1973 English champion 2-year-old filly Bitty Girl, a fleet daughter of 1968 English champion miler Habitat.
Looking to the future, La Cara, whose sire is Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and who already has a stakes win at more than a mile to her credit, may have more Kentucky Oaks potential than The Queens M G, given that she posted a 95 Equibase figure in the Suncoast and had her excuses in the Davona Dale. Based on this race, though, Florida;s 3-year-old fillies have some catching up to do if any of them hope to wear the lilies in May.
All three placers would need to improve substantially off this performance to be up with the best fillies in the sophomore division. The time was 1:37.85 for a mile on a fast track, and while Gulfstream does not have a particularly quick surface, a final quarter-mile in :25.53 is not overly encouraging. Still, spring is often a season of rapid change for 3-year-olds, and all of these fillies should have a chance to get another prep in before their connections make a decision about going to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1).
For The Queens M G, the question will be how much further she can develop. Had she run to the form she showed in her maiden victory, a 4½ furlong dash at Keeneland that saw her awarded a 97 Equibase figure, she would be among the best of this year’s sophomore misses. But in seven starts since then, she has only once run back within 10 points of that form, this while winning the 6-furlong Schuylerville Stakes. That does not bode well for stretching out to 9 furlongs two months from now against the likes of Tenma and Good Cheer.
That being said, many a trainer would be more than happy to have The Queens M G in the barn whether she proves to be Oaks material or not. There are worse things to have occupying one of one’s stalls than a multiple graded stakes winner who seems to have the makings of a capable sprinter.
The Queens M G’s success at Keeneland made her the first winner credited to multiple graded stakes winner Thousand Words (by Pioneerof the Nile), whose marquee wins came in the 2019 Los Alamitos Futurity (USA-G2) and 2020 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (USA-G3). Produced from multiple Grade 2 sprint winner Pomeroys Pistol (whose sire, Pomeroy, was a multiple Grade 1 winner over sprint distances), Thousand Words is also the sire of 2024 stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1) runner-up Vodka With a Twist and of Puerto Rican Grade 3 winner Caribbean Gal.
The Queens M G is the second foal and second winner produced from Show Queen, a daughter of 1996 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Grindstone. Show Queen, in turn, is out of Talent Queen (by the world-record-setting miler Elusive Quality), who is a half sister to 2006 Sorrento Stakes (USA-G3) winner Untouched Talent (by Storm Cat), juvenile stakes winner King Gulch (by Gulch), and Saudi Arabian champion Obay (by Kingmambo).
Talent Queen’s dam, multiple Grade 3 winner Parade Queen (by A.P. Indy), was something of an anomaly among the better horses coming from this family in that she did not reach her best form until late in her 3-year-old season and was at her best around two turns on turf. The female line traces back to 1973 English champion 2-year-old filly Bitty Girl, a fleet daughter of 1968 English champion miler Habitat.
Looking to the future, La Cara, whose sire is Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and who already has a stakes win at more than a mile to her credit, may have more Kentucky Oaks potential than The Queens M G, given that she posted a 95 Equibase figure in the Suncoast and had her excuses in the Davona Dale. Based on this race, though, Florida;s 3-year-old fillies have some catching up to do if any of them hope to wear the lilies in May.
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