Qahira changes tactics, takes Kalookan Queen triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. - Qahira set the pace in the Grade 3 Sherwood Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita in September, leading to the final strides before losing by three-quarters of a length.

In Sunday’s $78,350 Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita, jockey Joel Rosario took a different approach. Rosario kept Qahira in fourth for the opening quarter-mile and moved to the front in early stretch, a tactic that led to a one-length win.

Qahira ($5) was sent off favored and ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.05. The Kalookan Queen Stakes was Qahira’s first stakes win. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88, which equals her career best.

Rosario thought Qahira could be effective from the front, but decided to stalk the pace when Acting Out set an early pace of 21.79 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.56 for a half-mile.

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“I could see the horse outside wanted to go,” Rosario said of Acting Out. “I thought she should be the speed.”

Qahira advanced to third after a half-mile and rallied wide to take the lead.

“It worked out perfect,” Rosario said. “I let her find her stride. When she was ready, she went on.”

Amuse, who was third in the Chillingworth, closed from last in a field of six fillies and mares to finish second. Amuse (9-2) raced behind Acting Out and Mo See Cal into the stretch before jockey Drayden Van Dyke moved Amuse to a wide position in early stretch. Amuse closed steadily but could not threaten Qahira.

Van Dyke said he hoped to guide Amuse into running space on the rail, but that room did not develop.

“The other filly is a nice filly,” Van Dyke said of Qahira.

Biddy Duke finished third, followed by Mo See Cal, Dynasty of Her Own, and Acting Out.

Biddy Duke was claimed for $40,000 last May and won the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes at about 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in October. The Kalookan Queen Stakes was Biddy Duke’s second start of the winter-spring meeting, preceded by an eighth-place finish in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Dec. 26.

Qahira, owned by Baoma Corp., and trained by Bob Baffert, has won 5 of 8 starts and has earned $205,400.