Queen of the Mud delivers as favorite in Swingtime Stakes
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Queen of the Mud ended a streak of second-place finishes in sprint stakes in the Mid-Atlantic region with an ground-saving victory in Monday’s $92,800 Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
The Swingtime Stakes was Queen of the Mud’s first start around two turns and eighth start, all at different tracks.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Queen of the Mud ($5) ran a mile on turf in 1:35.45, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of 10-1 Yerwanthere, who rallied wide through the final quarter-mile. Lakota Spirit (47-1) closed from last to finish third by 2 1/2 lengths, moving between rivals through the final eighth of a mile.
Queen of the Mud had a better trip. Sent off favored in a field of nine, Queen of the Mud raced on the inside while tracking pacesetter Ankyrah through early fractions of 22.80 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.79 for a half-mile.
Entering the stretch, Queen of the Mud had ample room on the inside and quickened under Hernandez to take the lead.
Miss Lizzy finished fourth, followed by Queens Command, Moment’s Pleasure, Royal Charter, Ankyrah, and Gypsy Woman.
The Swingtime Stakes was restricted to fillies and mares who had not won a stakes worth $60,000 or more to the winner at a mile or longer, other than in statebred races, this year.
Queen of the Mud, a 4-year-old Irish-bred filly by Kodiac, has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $212,599 for the partnership of Siena Farm, The Elkstone Group, Peter Deutsch, and Michael Kisber.
Trained by Maryland-based Graham Motion, Queen of the Mud was second in the Sensible Lady Turf Dash Stakes at six furlongs on turf on Sept. 14 at Laurel in her previous start. She was second in the Goldwood Stakes on turf at Monmouth Park in June, and in the Satin and Lace Stakes on the synthetic track at Presque Isle Downs in August.
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