Queen Bee to You gets better of Der Lu in La Canada
ARCADIA, Calif. – Queen Bee to You fought off a persistent challenge from Der Lu through the final three furlongs to win her third consecutive stakes in Saturday’s Grade 3 La Canada Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
The result looked as if it would go against Queen Bee to You until she put her nose in front in the final strides of the $200,500 La Canada to prevail by that margin after racing within a head of Der Lu through the final furlong.
Der Lu finished two lengths in front of 17-1 Zusha in a depleted field of six.
Queen Bee to You ($6.60) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.36 under jockey Ruben Fuentes and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.
“She fought back,” Fuentes said. Der Lu “was in front the whole way and my filly dug in.”
Queen Bee to You was fourth in the opening quarter-mile and second at the end of the backstretch before taking a brief lead on the turn. Der Lu, who set a pace of 24 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.06 for a half-mile, relinquished the lead on the turn before regaining the advantage in the stretch.
Despite the duel, Fuentes said he had to take a patient approach before urging Queen Bee to You in the final furlong.
“She was cruising around in a good spot,” Fuentes said. “One thing I’ve learned from her, she doesn’t like the whip very much. I had to encourage her with my hands.”
The race changed on Saturday morning when the multiple Grade 1 winner Spiced Perfection was withdrawn. Trainer Peter Miller said Spiced Perfection will be pointed for the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes at seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25. The California-bred stakes winner Starr of Quality was also scratched.
Kaydetre finished third, followed by Horologist, the 3-2 favorite, and Message.
Queen Bee to You won the Betty Grable Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 17 and the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos on Dec. 8. Owned by Christopher St. Hilaire and Adam Vali and trained by Andrew Lerner, Queen Bee to You has won 8 of 33 starts and earned $658,770.
