Queen of the Sand will point to Gamely Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Queen of the Sand, who won the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Handicap on Saturday, will run next in the Grade 1, $300,000 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares May 25.

“It looks like that works because of the timing,” trainer Paddy Gallagher said.

Queen of the Sand rallied from eighth in a field of nine to win the Santa Barbara by a nose over the pacesetter Fanticola. The victory was the first for Gallagher in a graded stakes since Dice Flavor won the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar in August 2013.

“It was needed,” Gallagher said.

Queen of the Sand, who races for Derrick Fisher, ran well in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar last November. She finished second to La Tia, closing from off the pace to miss by 1 1/2 lengths.

A 5-year-old mare, Queen of the Sand began her career in Ireland, where she was bred. There, she won four races, including three on the all-weather synthetic surface at Dundalk. The Santa Barbara was Queen of the Sand’s eighth race in the U.S. and first win in a graded stakes.

“She always acted like she could go that far,” Gallagher said.

Fanticola will be considered for the Gamely, trainer Phil D’Amato said.