Breakdown mars longshot victory

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Queens Plaza, the longest shot in a four-horse field, scored her first stakes victory Saturday in the $100,000 Sorority at Monmouth Park.

The race took a tragic turn when Paragon Queen suffered a fatal injury in the stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Queens Plaza and Paragon Queen were dueling for the lead down the backstretch when Paragon Queen fell.

Eibar Coa, the rider of Paragon Queen, walked to the ambulance, shaken but uninjured. Paragon Queen, the runner-up in the Grade 3 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, had to be put down with a fractured right front cannon bone.

Paragon Queen was a $450,000 2-year-old in training purchase trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

Queens Plaza ($16.20) went on to a 3 1/4 length win over Dance Away Capote. Bold Outlook, coupled in the betting with Paragon Queen as the 1-10 favorite, was a distant third.

Queens Plaza ran the six furlongs in 1:11.73.

Queens Plaza, ridden by Stewart Elliott, improved her record to two wins in three starts.

"She tried to drift a little but she kept running well," said Elliott. "She should have no trouble stretching out."

The events on the track subdued the normal joy of victory.

"It was really a shame to see the other filly go down," said Tom Bush, trainer of Queens Plaza. "It really takes a lot away from it. It was just a terrible thing."

Ruby Be Mine and Dressed for Succes scratched, leaving only four runners and three betting interests, with Bold Outlook and Paragon Queen racing as a Bob and Beverly Lewis-owned entry.

The reduced field limited the betting options to win and exacta wagering. The 3-4 exacta paid $46.60.

* Leading rider Joe Bravo became ill after the fourth race and took off his remaining mounts.