Queen Bee to You gets first graded win in Bayakoa

CYPRESS, Calif. – Queen Bee to You gave trainer Andrew Lerner his first stakes win when the 5-year-old mare beat statebreds in the Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos in June.

Queen Bee to You gave Lerner a greater milestone when she recorded a convincing win by 3 1/2 lengths in Sunday’s Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes for fillies and mares at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Ruben Fuentes, Queen Bee to You closed from last in a field of six to take the lead in early stretch. The win was her third stakes win in her last six starts. Queen Bee to You won the Betty Grable Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 17.

The $100,351 Bakayoa Stakes was Queen Bee to You’s first start in a graded stakes since she finished last of six in an ambitious appearance in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar on July 28 in her first start following the Bertrando.

Fuentes rode Queen Bee to You in the Bertrando. In Sunday’s race, Queen Bee to You broke slower than expected and raced at the back of the field behind pacesetter Arctic Roll, trained by Lerner. Queen Bee to You was fourth on the turn and rallied wide through the stretch.

“It worked out better,” Fuentes said. “I was loaded and waiting for the right time to make a move. We were a little worried about the distance.”

Queen Bee to You ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.21 on a sealed track rated good. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

“Ruben gave her a confident ride,” said Lerner, 30. “When she loomed up at the quarter pole, I thought we had a great chance.”

Zusha (8-1) closed from fifth to finish second, a neck in front of 9-5 favorite Lady Suebee, who led in early stretch. Lady Suebee and Zusha were first and third in the restricted Tranquility Lake Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar on Aug. 23.

Kim K finished fourth in the Bayakoa, followed by Mongolian Humor and Arctic Roll.

Mirth, the winner of the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 28 and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare turf there on Nov. 2, was withdrawn on Sunday morning because of the wet main track, trainer Phil D’Amato said.

Mo See Cal, third in the Betty Grable Stakes, was withdrawn earlier on Sunday afternoon because of a bout with colic, track stewards said.

Owned by Christophe St. Hilaire and Adam Vali, Queen Bee to You, by Old Topper, has won seven of 32 starts and earned $538,770. This year, Queen Bee to You has won four of 11 starts and earned $299,703.