Queen's Martini stirs her first stakes triumph in Dig a Diamond

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Queen’s Martini became a stakes winner in her two-turn debut Saturday when she edged Pronghorn by a nose in the $200,000 Dig a Diamond at Oaklawn Park.

It was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third to favorite Standoutsensation.

The Dig a Diamond – which fit the theme of an ontrack fan appreciation promotion by which patrons had the chance to win a diamond – was for fillies and mares at a mile. It was run over a fast track, which had been upgraded from good for the sixth race. The Dig a Diamond went as race 10.

Queen’s Martini ($19.20) was content to stalk the pace in third as Runamileinmyshoes set fractions of 23.74 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.46 for the half-mile with Standoutsensation prompting the leader. Queen’s Martini quickened on the final turn while taking the lead through six furlongs in 1:11.65 and in the drive held off a fast-closing Pronghorn.

David Cabrera was aboard the winner for trainer Ron Moquett.

“I learned a lot from her the last time,” Cabrera said in an interview conducted by Oaklawn. “She doesn’t like too much kickback and she doesn’t like to be in between horses, in traffic that much. I knew we were going to have a little speed, so I just let her get out of there and put her in a good position without getting the kickback. And, of course, I won’t be in traffic. And, it worked out.”

Queen's Martini won the mile race that ended at the sixteenth pole in 1:37.21.

Queen’s Martini is a daughter of Mucho Macho Man who races for Fleur de Lis Stables. She has now won 4 of 13 starts for earnings of $341,351.

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