Queen Bee to You shows rivals who's boss in Betty Grable Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – What a difference a week makes. On Sunday, trainer Andrew Lerner was standing in the winner’s circle at Del Mar, able to enjoy his first stakes win here, courtesy of Queen Bee to You in the $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes. It was a stark contrast to the previous Sunday, when Lerner’s claiming filly, Princess Dorian, suffered a serious front leg fracture.

“A lot different. A lot of emotions,” Lerner said Sunday.

Princess Dorian – owned by Lerner and Erik Johnson, a defenseman with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League – underwent surgery on Nov. 11 in an attempt to save her and is continuing to recuperate at the San Luis Rey Equine hospital.

“It’s a long, long road,” Lerner said. “I speak to the doctor every day. She’s putting weight on the leg. So far, so good.”

Queen Bee to You was a recent arrival in Lerner’s barn, transferred to him in June. She has been ambitiously placed since, twice racing against males, with three races going long on dirt, and one in a turf sprint. Finally, on Sunday, in her fifth start for Lerner, she was able to run in a dirt sprint against fellow California-bred females, and she responded with a terrific performance, drawing clear by 4 1/2 lengths while covering seven furlongs on the fast main track in a sharp 1:22.90.

“We put the mare in a lot of tough spots,” said Lerner, who often was frustrated that races he wanted to run in didn’t attract enough entries, forcing him to go to less-desirable spots. “This was the right spot, right distance.”

Queen Bee to You started from the outside stall in a field of six and got an ideal trip under Flavien Prat. She stalked the pace while three paths wide, took command in upper stretch, and bounded clear. She paid $8 to win.

Show It N Moe It finished second, 3 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Mo See Cal, the 3-5 favorite. Creative Instinct, Starr of Quality, and Coco Kisses completed the order of finish. Love a Honeybadger was scratched on Saturday.

Queen Bee to You, 5, is by Old Topper. She has now won six times in 31 starts, and the $57,000 she earned Sunday brought her career earnings to more than $478,000. She was claimed by Christopher St. Hilaire for $50,000 on Dec. 1, 2016 at Del Mar. St. Hilaire later added Adam Vali as a co-owner. Michael Pender trained Queen Bee to You from the time she was claimed until Lerner took over. She has earned nearly $465,000 since the claim.

This was her second win for Lerner. Queen Bee to You beat males in the Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos in June.