Crown Queen rules over short field in Lake Placid Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Crown Queen has some big shoes to fill, trying to live up to the reputation of her older sister, Royal Delta. But the blossoming turf star took another step in that direction Saturday at Saratoga when surging late to register a hard-fought and well-deserved half-length decision over Duff One in the $300,000 Lake Placid.

A field of only four 3-year-old fillies contested the Grade 2 Lake Placid after the declarations earlier in the day of V V Goodnight and My Miss Sophia, the latter having been entered for the main track only.

As expected, the pace was a relatively relaxed one with Duff One taking the initiative from the rail under jockey Jose Ortiz. Duff One took the compact field through a 24.09-second quarter and 48.70 half-mile over the firm course with Crown Queen stalking her from the outside and Xcellence poised within easy striking distance near the rail.

Duff One continued to hold the advantage entering the stretch as Crown Queen remained close up to her outside, and Xcellence commenced her bid through a narrow opening on the fence. The trio came together on even terms near the sixteenth pole, Crown Queen finishing best of all to be edging away at the wire. Duff One held gamely from between horses to beat Xcellence by a head for second despite switching to her left lead at mid-stretch.

Minorette, the winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Derby in her previous start, was reserved at the rear of the pack from the outset, swung four wide into the stretch attempting to launch her rally but lacked the sufficient closing response, finishing fourth and last of the well-matched quartet.

Crown Queen, a daughter of Smart Strike owned by Besilu Stables, completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.91 and paid $4.50 as the favorite under a heady ride from jockey John Velazquez.

“To run down those fillies makes you wish she was ready to run a month ago so she might have made it to the million-dollar race,” said Bill Mott, who guided Royal Delta to three Eclipse Award-winning seasons. “She showed us that she really belongs at that level. The trip was a big factor in this race, and I guess, on those occasions, you’re glad to have a Hall of Fame rider in your corner like Johnny who will make the right call as the race develops.”

Mott said Crown Queen does show some qualities similar to Royal Delta.

“She’s a little bit different type of horse, a little different body type, and more suitable for the grass than Royal Delta was, but she does have the same class and determination as her sister,” said Mott.