Divine Queen ($105.40) surprises all in Dogwood Stakes
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Calvin Borel delivered a Mine That Bird-like ride Saturday at Churchill Downs in the $100,000 Dogwood Stakes, guiding Divine Queen up the fence in the slop to victory.
And Divine Queen delivered a Mine That Bird-like price, upsetting at odds of more than 51-1 and returning $105.40.
Unlike Mine That Bird’s famous Kentucky Derby 50-1 stunner in 2009, when Borel’s mount drew away to a 6 3/4-length victory, Saturday’s Dogwood came down to the wire. Even with Borel saving every inch of ground, Divine Queen was in a dogfight in the stretch, just managing to edge Go Google Yourself by a head.
“She showed up today,” said three-time Derby winner Borel, whose other Derby victories included Street Sense in 2007 and Super Saver in 2010.
“You know, she had a lot of talent. It was just to find the right thing. And I found out today she loved the mud.”
Bettors lacked Borel’s confidence, dismissing her after she had been sixth and fourth in two starts over the summer at Ellis Park. But Borel, as well as trainer Buff Bradley, kept faith in her.
“The last time we thought she should have won,” said Bradley, who co-owns her with Carl Hurst. “She stumbled pretty badly out of the gate, and grabbed her quarter.”
She had no such issues in the Dogwood. Away well, she was able to secure a forward position by tracking the pace in fourth, as front-runner and eventual third-place finisher Jean Elizabeth set fractions of 22.75 seconds and 46.46 in a race restricted for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs.
As Jean Elizabeth drifted out at the top of the lane, Borel found the daylight needed for his filly to shoot through. She accelerated, catching the leader and outkicking the outside-surging Go Google Yourself over the final sixteenth of a mile in the driving rain. She was timed in 1:25.04. Divine Queen was given an 83 Beyer Speed Figure.
“Obviously she really liked the mud,” Bradley said. “Most of her family has, too.”
The victory punctuated an emotionally rewarding week for Bradley and Hurst, who had one of the favorite horses, The Player, return to Bradley’s farm this week after a long recovery from an injury suffered in the March 24 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds.
Divine Queen, a daughter of Divine Park out of the Town Queen bred by her owners, is a cousin of The Player, Hurst said.
