Queen Bee to You possible for Solana Beach Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. – Queen Bee to You joined trainer Andrew Lerner’s stable in mid-June. By the end of the month, she had provided the 30-year-old trainer with his first stakes win.

Queen Bee to You recorded an upset victory in the $100,351 Bertrando Stakes for California-bred milers at Los Alamitos on Saturday, holding on by a nose over 16-1 Tule Fog. Queen Bee to You was the only filly or mare in a field of six.

“I knew she was sharp,” Lerner said. “She was on her toes. I knew she’d put in a good effort.”

Lerner had his first winner at Del Mar in August 2017. His stable has grown rapidly and numbers 40 runners this summer. Lerner began training Queen Bee to You after her previous trainer, Mike Pender, was suspended in June over a horse welfare issue.

Lerner hoped to run Queen Bee to You in the $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes at Santa Anita on June 22, but she was denied entry by a panel of veterinarians and stewards who have reviewed the race, medical, and training records of horses entered to race in Southern California since mid-June.

Lerner speculated on Saturday that Queen Bee to You was denied entry because the 5-year-old mare had not been with him very long when entries were taken June 16.

“The horse just got sent to me,” he said. “We wanted to run her there. She was ready.”

The Bertrando Stakes was a suitable alternative.

Lerner said after Saturday’s race that Queen Bee to You will be considered for the $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 9. Queen Bee to You was second in two stakes for statebreds on turf at Santa Anita earlier this year when trained by Pender.