Queen Goddess bids for third stakes win of meet in the Santa Barbara Stakes
At 0h01, on May 13, 2022 • By SANTA ANITA
A Grade I winner on opening day, Dec. 26, the Michael McCarthy-trained Queen Goddess bids for her third graded stakes win of the meet as she heads a field of six fillies and mares three and up going a mile and one half on turf in Saturday’s Grade III, $125,000 Santa Barbara Stakes at Santa Anita.
A winner of the opening day American Oaks at a mile and one quarter on dirt, Queen Goddess was subsequently a disappointing fifth in the Grade III Bayakoa Stakes on dirt at Oaklawn Park Feb. 12, but came back to Santa Anita to register an impressive 1 ½ length win over multiple graded stakes winners Going to Vegas and Neige Blanche at a mile and one quarter on turf in the Grade III Santa Ana Stakes March 26.
Attentive to the pace in the Santa Ana, Queen Goddess made an eye catch move heading to the quarter pole and was never threatened thereafter in a performance that produced a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.
Although Neige Blanche should appreciate the added quarter mile, Queen Goddess, who will be ridden back by Victor Espinoza, galloped out in the Santa Ana as though a mile and one half would be to her liking as well. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and TOLO Thoroughbreds, Inc., Queen Goddess, a 4-year-old filly by Empire Maker out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Royal Story, is 8-4-1-1 with earnings of $385,580.
