Gold for the Queen shows speed going shorter

Gold for the Queen, cutting back to six furlongs after five straight longer races and making her first start since January, showed surprising speed to win Saturday's $50,000 Susan B. Anthony Handicap at Finger Lakes.

A stakes winner going 1 1/16 miles in last summer's New York Oaks, the 4-year-old Gold for Queen ($9.90) had raced in two-turn routes in four of her last five starts. In her lone sprint try during that span, she broke last and was non-competitive going seven furlongs.

But on Saturday, ridden for the first time by Pedro Rodriguez, Gold for the Queen dueled with defending champion Bob's Dylan for the first half-mile before drawing clear and winning by 1 1/4 lengths. She completed the six furlongs in 1:09.89.

"We were concerned about Bob s Dylan being alone on the lead so she was placed forward", said winning trainer Charlton Baker. "She s been training so well."

Gold for Queen is now 5 for 17 lifetime.

Seasons Wise finished second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of R Betty Graybull, the 2-1 favorite.