Capital Q gets stakes test in Paxson Memorial

Capital Q, who has already proven her quality against Pennsylvania-breds, steps up to stakes company for the first time against a competitive field in the $100,000 Mrs. Henry D. Paxson Memorial for statebred juvenile fillies on Monday night at Presque Isle Downs.

Capital Q, who will break from the rail under Roberto Rosado, was beaten by 14 and by 12 1/4 lengths in her first two outings, both against open-company fillies at Parx. Trained by Robert Mosco, she dropped to face Pennsylvania-breds on Aug. 3, stretching out from the 4 1/2 furlongs of her first two starts to 5 1/2 furlongs. Capital Q responded with a 5 1/4-length maiden special weight victory, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 66, far and away the best number in this field. She adds an extra sixteenth of a mile in distance in the six-furlong Paxson Memorial.

Lula’s Roadrunner won an open-company maiden special weight on June 24 at Parx going 4 1/2 furlongs. Her Beyer of 57 that day is the second-highest in this field. Trainer Edward Coletti Jr. then stepped her up for the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes on July 11 at Saratoga, and she finished sixth over a muddy track. Mychel Sanchez, aboard for both her prior starts, retains the mount Monday aboard Lulu’s Roadrunner, the 3-1 morning-line favorite.

Baby Dragon, the most experienced member of the field with four starts, all for trainer Teresa Connelly, has been soundly beaten in her two open-company starts, but has competed creditably in both her efforts against Pennsylvania-breds. The first of those outings came when she was second by 2 3/4 lengths to Weed Wacker on Aug. 13 at Presque Isle. The second came when she defeated Biondetta by a half-length in a Sept. 2 maiden race here, with Sunday opponent Ettaplace third. Antonio Gallardo, aboard for the maiden score, retains the mount on Baby Dragon.

Weed Wacker, whose only start was that Aug. 13 maiden victory, faces Baby Dragon again in the Paxson Memorial, as do Biondetta and Ettaplace, both still maidens. Weed Wacker is coupled in the wagering with the maiden Chilly Sky, who was fifth in Baby Dragon’s maiden win. Penn National maiden winner Leaky Cauldron and the debut starter Impazible Mink complete the field.

The Paxson Memorial was intended to share billing with the $100,000 Mark McDermott Memorial for Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-olds, but the race failed to go on Monday’s card. The McDermott Memorial had drawn 19 nominees, six of them fillies who were entered in the Paxson Memorial: Biondetta, Capital Q, Chilly Sky, Ettaplace, Impazible Mink, and Weed Wacker.