Queen Maxima takes another crack at a mile in Osunitas

The only poor performance in Queen Maxima’s brief career occurred last September when she finished last of 10 in an allowance race at a mile on turf at Del Mar.

The loss, in her second career start, seems like a lifetime ago considering Queen Maxima has won her last three races in turf sprint stakes at Santa Anita and Churchill Downs since late February.

A winner of 6 of 9 starts, Queen Maxima has developed into a brilliant runner, making her presence in Sunday’s $100,000 Osunitas Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf all the more intriguing.

She deserves another chance at a mile, according to trainer Jeff Mullins. The loss last September came three weeks after a win in her debut in a maiden race at five furlongs on turf.

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“That was a mistake on my part,” Mullins said on Friday. “She pulled the whole way and I ran her back too quick.

“She was a better sprinter at the time.”

Queen Maxima, who races for the partnership of Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures, delivered a career-best performance with a 3 1/2-length win in the Grade 3 Unbridled Sidney Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Churchill on May 2.

Queen Maxima closed from fourth of nine to take a commanding lead in the final furlong. She was timed in 1:01.29, a course record.

“It was a really good race and she did it pretty stylishly,” Mullins said. “We were all really proud of her. She proved who she was. I thought she was that kind anyway.”

The Osunitas, which drew an excellent field of 12, is restricted to fillies and mares who have not won a stakes worth $50,000 to the winner, other than statebred races, at a mile or more since Oct. 1.

Queen Maxima will start from post 2 and be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who has been aboard for her last five starts, all wins.

The restricted conditions of the Osunitas makes the mile distance more appealing, Mullins said.

“I think if we’re going to try her a mile this is a spot,” he said. “I think she’s matured enough now that she’ll probably rate comfortably. She drew an inside post and she should get cover.”

Queen Maxima is one of 10 stakes winners in a field that includes Lunar Impact, the winner of the Grade 3 Mizdirection Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on May 17; Sunset Glory, the appealing winner of a one-mile allowance race on turf in her 2025 debut on June 6; and Grand Slam Smile, a five-time stakes winner quick enough to set the pace.

Lunar Impact drew the outside, which is likely to force jockey Hector Berrios to use her speed to gain an early position.

“She’s got natural speed, so she’ll be forwardly placed,” trainer Dan Blacker said. “I’m excited to see her run. She’s won twice at a mile and I don’t think the distance will be an issue.”

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