As the distances have increased, Queen Goddess has improved

ARCADIA, Calif. – Queen Goddess has become a multiple graded-stakes winner in recent months with victories in races on dirt and turf. The key to success has been races at longer distances, which has left trainer Michael McCarthy curious if the 4-year-old filly can develop into a prospect for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf by the fall.

Saturday at Santa Anita, McCarthy watched Queen Goddess win her first stakes on turf in the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes at 1 1/4 miles.

“She’s on top of her game,” McCarthy said. “She seems to want the added furlongs.”

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Queen Goddess ($16.60) had an ideal trip in the $126,500 Santa Ana, stalking the pace before taking the lead entering the stretch. She won by 1 1/2 lengths over even-money favorite Going to Vegas.

Granted, the Santa Ana Stakes was a minor race in the older filly and mare turf division, but the win has left McCarthy and the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and TOLO Thoroughbreds eager to see more from Queen Goddess as the season unfolds.

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The Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf will be run at Keeneland at 1 3/8 miles on Nov. 5.

“If she progresses, we’ll give her every opportunity,” McCarthy said.

Queen Goddess was McCarthy’s fourth stakes winner of the year, a group that includes Ce Ce, the champion female sprinter of 2021. Owned by Bo Hirsch, Ce Ce won the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes on March 12 at Oaklawn Park, and is tentatively scheduled to start there in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap, a $1 million race at 1 1/16 miles on April 23.

“It seems like she likes that track at Oaklawn,” McCarthy said.

Saturday at Santa Anita, Ce Ce worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds, her first major exercise since the Azeri.