Shenandoah Queen wins stakes debut in Tranquility Lake

DEL MAR, Calif. - Shenandoah Queen won her stakes debut Friday in the $78,545 Tranquility Lake Stakes for fillies and mares on dirt at Del Mar, but the surface will not necessarily define her upcoming starts.

Kosta Hronis, who co-owns Shenandoah Queen with his brother, Pete, said the 5-year-old Shenandoah Queen could run on dirt or turf in the future. She has won on both surfaces in the past year.

“I think she’ll be versatile,” Kosta Hronis said. “She might like the turf at Santa Anita.”

Shenandoah Queen scored an upset win in the Tranquility Lake, which was run at a mile and restricted to fillies and mares who had not won a stakes purse worth $50,000 or more to the winner in races at a mile or greater since Feb. 1.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza for trainer John Sadler, Shenandoah Queen ($42.40) stalked pacesetter Street Surrender for the first six furlongs, took the lead on the turn and held off a late threat from 3-5 favorite Faithfully to win by three-quarters of a length.

Shenandoah Queen, who led by three lengths with a furlong remaining, was timed in 1:36.30.

Faithfully finished 5 3-4 lengths in front of Motown Lady, who was followed by Street Surrender, Autumn Flower, and Midnight Toast.

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Santiago Gonzalez, who rode Midnight Toast, lodged an objection against Faithfully, citing interference shortly at the start, but the order of finish was not changed. Midnight Toast took up when Faithfully drifted to the inside in the opening strides.

Shenandoah Queen has won 5 of 11 and earned $101,300. She joined Sadler’s stable during the summer, having previously raced on the East Coast.

Shenandoah Queen was fifth in an optional claimer on turf on Aug. 2 in her California debut, days after she was scratched from the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes.