Queen Blossom gets class relief in turf feature

ARCADIA, Calif. – Queen Blossom was ninth and fourth in her first two starts in the United States, losses in stakes at Santa Anita in December and February.

For her third start, trainer Graham Motion is opting for an easier race – a second-level optional $62,500 claimer for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf Friday at Santa Anita. The race will be Queen Blossom’s eighth career start and will end a streak of six consecutive appearances in stakes in Ireland and California. She won her debut in a maiden race in Ireland in September 2015.

“This is going to be the best spot she’s been in for a while,” Motion said. “I want to get her back on track.”

Queen Blossom is one of three stakes winners in the six-horse field. Queen Blossom won the Group 3 Park Express Stakes at a mile in Ireland last March. Cheekaboo won the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes last June. Peach Cove was a minor stakes winner in New Zealand in 2015.

Salsita is the only filly entered for the $62,500 claiming price. Claimed for $40,000 on Feb. 9 by trainer Jeff Mullins, Salsita has won three of her last four starts. This will be her first start at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Race 5

KEY CONTENDERS

Queen Blossom, by Jeremy

Last 2 Beyers: 88-87

◗ Owned by Gary Barber and the Team Valor International partnership, Queen Blossom was ninth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths, in the Grade 1 American Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf Dec. 31 in her American debut.

◗ The race was scheduled for 1 1/4 miles on turf but was shortened because of wet conditions. The change did not work for Queen Blossom, Motion said.

“We were in there to take a shot at the distance,” Motion said.

◗ Queen Blossom was fourth, beaten 4 1/4 lengths, in the minor Astra Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf Feb. 2. Queen Blossom closed from ninth in a race run at a slow pace.

Cheekaboo, by Unusual Heat

Last 3 Beyers: 82-89-82

◗ Cheekaboo is a two-time stakes winner but is winless in six starts since the Honeymoon Stakes. She was sixth in the American Oaks, closing from last in the final furlong to miss by 2 1/4 lengths. More recently, Cheekaboo was fourth in an optional claimer at a mile on turf that featured a slow pace Feb. 3.

“She has to have a pace,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “If she’s two lengths off the lead in a mile race, you’re dead. She’s not going to quicken. They were walking the other day.

“She’s a useful filly, but she needs things to work out for her.”

◗ Queen Blossom and Cheekaboo are likely to be in pursuit of Nine Point Nine and Peach Cove, who both have shown speed.