Reason for Queen Maxima's Monrovia disappointment becomes a bit clearer

ARCADIA, Calif. – The curious saga of Queen Maxima continues to stir discussion at Santa Anita following the mare’s flat third as the odds-on favorite April 4 in the Grade 3 Monrovia Stakes on the hillside turf course.

Contrary to an initial report by Daily Racing Form, stewards Grant Baker, Luis Jauregui, and Kim Sawyer were not party to the events that contributed to Queen Maxima’s disappointing finish as the shortest-priced favorite on the Santa Anita Derby card.

Following a catastrophic breakdown in the first hillside race on April 4, the seventh reported fatality of the winter meet, track officials and veterinary staff issued a verbal directive to jockeys with mounts in the Monrovia. The order was that jockeys must school their horses downhill over the dirt crossing before heading uphill to the starting gate a half-mile away.

Queen Maxima’s jockey, Juan Hernandez, did not receive the message. He therefore followed routine with Queen Maxima, already a three-time winner on the hill. Hernandez took Queen Maxima to the starting gate, unaware of the directive for additional schooling.

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At the gate, Hernandez reportedly was told by a veterinarian that he must return Queen Maxima to the bottom of the hill, school the mare over the dirt crossing, and then return to the gate. Otherwise, the message understood by Hernandez was that Queen Maxima would be scratched.

Veterinarians, however, do not have authority to scratch a horse. Only stewards can issue a scratch. Baker, Jauregui, and Sawyer were not involved in the conversation with Hernandez.

The circumstances placed Hernandez in an awkward position. He chose to follow the last-minute directive. Hernandez rode Queen Maxima back to the bottom of the hill for schooling at the dirt crossing, then back to the gate – a round trip of about one mile. Hernandez told trainer Jeff Mullins later that Queen Maxima was “done” before the race even started.

Queen Maxima, a 5-year-old multiple stakes winner with eight wins and $642,460 in earnings from 14 starts, finished third at odds of 2-5.

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