Queen Goddess, Neige Blanche rematch in Santa Barbara Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The first meeting between Queen Goddess and Neige Blanche in the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes on March 26 at Santa Anita was not a fair match.

At least, that’s the point of view of trainer Leonard Powell, who watched with frustration as Neige Blanche encountered trouble and finished third behind the victorious Queen Goddess.

“Queen Goddess got a perfect trip that day,” Powell said. “I think I might have run second.”

The rematch occurs in Saturday’s Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita. This time, the distance is 1 1/2 miles compared to 1 1/4 miles in the Santa Ana Stakes.

Powell and Michael McCarthy, who trains Queen Goddess, think their runners will be suited to the distance. In the Santa Ana Stakes, Queen Goddess stalked the pace to early stretch before winning by 1 1/2 lengths, showing no sign of slowing down.

“It seems like she should like the added distance,” McCarthy said. “They’re kind of her forte. I’m looking forward to see what she can do at a mile and a half.”

:: Win big at Santa Anita: Get DRF Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and more.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbreds and TOLO Thoroughbreds, Queen Goddess is a two-time winner at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, having won the Grade 1 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on dirt on Dec. 26. The race was scheduled for turf, but transferred to dirt because of rain.

In the $125,000 Santa Barbara Stakes, Queen Goddess drew the rail in a field of six and will be ridden by Victor Espinoza. Queen Goddess set the pace in the American Oaks and will be near the front again.

“She’ll do whatever you need,” McCarthy said.

Neige Blanche won the Grade 3 Astra Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at 3-10 on Jan. 17, stalking a slow pace before winning by a length. In the Santa Ana Stakes, Neige Blanche raced in traffic on the turn and closed well to miss second by a nose.

“We got caught a bit flat-footed on the turn and came running at the end,” Powell said. “I’m hoping the extra additional quarter-mile will work to her advantage.”

Without trouble, Powell argues that Neige Blanche “would have been second, for sure.”

Neige Blanche may have a slight advantage over Queen Goddess with experience at longer distances. Last November, Neige Blanche won the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar by leading throughout.

Powell respects Queen Goddess, describing her as “a filly that is improving.”

“On paper, it looks like a two-horse race,” he said.

The other four runners – Carpe Vinum, Cover Version, New Heat, and Queen Ofthe Temple – are rated as outsiders.

Carpe Vinum, trained by Phil D’Amato, was fifth in the Astra Stakes in 2021 and was sixth of eighth at 37-1 in the Santa Ana Stakes earlier this spring. Carpe Vinum was beaten a nose in an allowance race at a mile on turf April 17.