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The Queens M G earns graded crown in G3 Adirondack

by Christian Abdo

C Two Racing Stable and Mathis Stable’s The Queens M G doubled her stakes tally at the Spa while making the grade impressively in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Adirondack, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., the Thousand Words dark bay entered off a 2 3/4-length score in the six-furlong Listed Schuylerville on July 11 here. A surprise winner to many last-out at odds of 44-1 after misfiring in the Astoria on June 6 here, The Queens M G confirmed the effort was no fluke with an impressive victory in the Adirondack. She is now 3-for-4 lifetime, with all of her wins coming from the outside draw.

“She wasn't 40-1, so the pressure was on. I thought today we would see if we had a legit horse, or not,” said Joseph, Jr. “Last time, she had one work, and she wasn't really supposed to win. It was a big shock that she won coming off such a bad race. Today, coming back in three weeks off one work she was as fit as she could get. You can't get fitter than today.”

Piloted by Dylan Davis, who returned to ride after the last-out upset, The Queens M G broke sharply from the outermost post 7 but it was Anakarina who shot to the front to her inside. Anakarina vied for the early lead with Astoria-winner Whatintheliteral, but was able to maintain command through an opening quarter-mile in 21.42 seconds over the fast main track.

“Outside post again, and I could really sit off it and let her do what she wants. She was more aggressive coming out of there on a hot pace,” said Davis. “She’s able to settle and she’s really versatile. She just waits for my cue and responds.”

Dare to Breeze tracked Anakarina down the backside as The Queen’s M G settled into a stalking position in the three-path. Post-time favorite Italian Soiree sat close behind under Flavien Prat to the outside of Whatintheliteral as the field traveled through the turn going a half-mile in 44.57.

At the quarter-pole, the early pacesetter dropped off and Dare to Breeze inherited the lead with an early move, but The Queens M G was kicking into gear under a motionless Davis. When straightened for home, Davis gave his charge her cue as Italian Soiree also looked to get going.

Davis said he was not worried about Dare to Breeze, who won by 6 1/4 lengths here on July 13, taking over at this stage.

“I was just riding her and I knew she would show up for me. Just keeping in mind with the six and a half that someone could be having a really good trip behind me to make a nice run late. I just bided my time,” Davis explained.

The Queens M G surged away from the field impressively and began to pour it on after three-quarters in 1:10.80. Italian Soiree could only watch from second as The Queens M G crossed the line nine lengths in front in a final time of 1:17.83.

It was another three lengths back to Atomic City in third, with Dare to Breeze rounding out the superfecta. Aguas de Cristal, who lunged at the break, Anakarina, and Whatintheliteral completed the order of finish. Social Fortress and White Sands were scratched.

Joseph, Jr. said the talented filly will likely next contest the seven-furlong Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway here on August 31, which is part of the “Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen” series for the Grade 1 $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in November at Del Mar.

"She won the last stake and from there it was always, carry to this stake. Why are we going to let them catch up? We're ahead right now and we don't want them to catch up,” the conditioner explained. “I think we take the same approach. We distanced ourselves more so something new is going to have to beat us, or we're going to have to regress quite a bit.”

Joseph, Jr., who won his third stakes of the meet including the pair for The Queens M G along with Spirit Wind in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap on July 24, was particularly impressed with today’s effort.

“She's drawn outside all three times, so that's been to her advantage. She showed a new dimension because she sat off a couple horses and she quickened,” said Joseph, Jr. “Today, was her best by far. Last time, she won but today was a different level.”

Prat said the John Terranova, II-trained Italian Soiree was game when facing a classy rival in just her second outing.

“I was traveling very well all the way around, but the winner, obviously it was her fourth run. My horse, it was only her second. When I tipped her out, she couldn’t sustain that pace, but she ran a good race,” said Prat.

The Queens M G, out of the Grindstone mare Show Queen, was originally a $3,500 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, before being bought privately after a victorious debut at 45-1 odds for trainer Israel Acevedo in April at Keeneland. She is now the first graded winner for freshman sire Thousand Words.

Bred in Kentucky by T.F. VanMeter, Samuel Hernandez, Jesus Torres and Justin Vinalay, The Queens M G banked $110,000 in victory and improved her lifetime record to 4-3-0-0. She returned $7.20 on a $2 win wager

Live racing resumes Wednesday at Saratoga with a nine-race card, featuring the $125,000 Johnstone Mile in Race 8. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.