Neige Blanche turns tables on Queen Goddess in Santa Barbara
ARCADIA, Calif. - The springtime series between the older turf females Neige Blanche and Queen Goddess is tied at one win apiece after they finished in that order in Saturday’s Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita.
On March 26, Queen Goddess won the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf, holding off Neige Blanche, who closed from seventh to finish third.
In the five-runner Santa Barbara Stakes, Queen Goddess, the 3-5 favorite, set the pace, but could not hold off the stretch run of Neige Blanche, who won by 1 1/4 lengths and paid $4.80 as the second choice.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Neige Blanche was timed in 2:27.55 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
Hernandez said Neige Blanche benefited from a patient trip in which he was able to place her behind rivals in the small field.
“She loves the distance,” Hernandez said. “The trip worked out pretty good for us. She relaxes better behind horses. In the clear, she pulls and tries to take off.”
Queen Goddess, ridden by Victor Espinoza, set a modest pace of 47.48 seconds for the first half-mile and six furlongs in 1:12.70, leading by as much as 1 1/2 lengths. On the turn, Hernandez urged Neige Blanche to the outside of Queen Goddess and was within a length of the leader with a furlong remaining before taking the lead in the final sixteenth.
“At the quarter pole, I found space to come through and she picked it up,” Hernandez said.
Espinoza, who rode Queen Goddess for the first time in the Santa Ana, said after the Santa Barbara that he wished he had urged the 4-year-old Queen Goddess away from her rivals on the turn.
“She ran an awesome race,” Espinoza said. “Looking back, it’s better if you move a little early.
“I think if she goes a little early then that’s better. I think I rode too patient. She doesn’t have that kick. She’s steady.”
Queen Goddess finished 2 3/4 lengths clear of 10-1 Queen Ofthe Temple, who had her stakes debut in the $125,000 Santa Barbara. Carpe Vinum and Cover Version completed the order of finish. New Heat was scratched Saturday morning.
Neige Blanche, a 5-year-old French-bred mare by Anodin, has won 8 of 18 starts and earned $480,280. She races for trainer Leonard Powell and the partnership of Madaket Stable, Laura de Seroux, Marsha Naify, and Mathilde Powell.
The Santa Barbara Stakes was Neige Blanche’s sixth stakes win and second consecutive win in the Santa Barbara. Earlier this year, Neige Blanche won the Grade 3 Astra Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf, a race that did not include Queen Goddess.