Shenandoah Queen looks to rebound in Bayakoa

CYPRESS, Calif. – The 5-year-old Shenandoah Queen will be part of a rebuilding winter for trainer John Sadler and his principal clients, Kosta and Pete Hronis.

In early November, their Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, had her final start in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar, finishing eighth. She was sold days later at Keeneland’s November sale for $6 million.

Shenandoah Queen is only a minor stakes winner and will have her graded stakes debut in California in Sunday’s Grade 2 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos. Shenandoah Queen won the restricted Tranquility Lake Stakes at Del Mar in August, but did not start again until the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4. Shenandoah Queen finished sixth after a poor start.

“She stumbled at the start and lost her position,” Sadler said.

The lengthy break between races was not intentional.

“She got sick a couple of times at the wrong time,” Sadler said. “I wanted to get a race in her. She’s come back and worked three times since Kentucky.”

The $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles and is for fillies and mares on dirt. How Shenandoah Queen runs may indicate how she fits in the division.

“I want to see her next race be like the race she ran at Del Mar,” he said.

Street Surrender will start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the Bayakoa, while the multiple stakes winner It Tiz Well will stay in the barn for an expected start in late December at Santa Anita.

Street Surrender won the Southern Truce Stakes at Santa Anita in June, but has been beaten in her last three starts, all at Del Mar – a sixth-place finish in the Osunitas Stakes on turf in July, a fourth in the Tranquility Lake, and an eighth-place finish in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes on Nov. 3.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Street Surrender has won 6 of 18 starts and earned $203,807.

“She’s ready to run,” Hollendorfer said.

Other projected starters in the Bayakoa are Champagne Room, who was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2016, Bernina Star, Constellation, Majestic Heat, Madame Stripes, and Pacific Heat.

Constellation was eased in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 4, and has since worked quickly at Santa Anita, including six furlongs in 1:13.60 on Tuesday.

Options for It Tiz Well include two Grade 1 races for 3-year-old fillies – the La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs on Dec. 26 and the American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf Dec. 30. It Tiz Well has never raced on turf.

“We’re going to look at that race,” Hollendorfer said.

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