Sweet Queen has pedigree, ability going for her in Wine Country Stakes

On form and pedigree, Sweet Queen looks like a standout in Saturday’s $50,000-added Wine Country Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, Calif.

The Wine Country, for 3-year-old fillies, drew a field of five and goes as race 9.

A Twirling Candy filly, Sweet Queen won her debut in a high-priced maiden claimer on dirt at Del Mar last summer before running third in the Blue Norther at Santa Anita in December in her stakes and turf debut. Given nearly six months off, she ran second in a Santa Anita optional claimer on turf about six weeks ago.

Sweet Queen is bred to excel on grass. Her sire won both of his turf starts, the Grade 3 Del Mar Derby and the Oceanside Stakes. All seven of her siblings are winners, with four earning six-digit bankrolls and three winning on turf. One of her siblings, Queen of the Catsle, earned $358,000 on turf, with four turf stakes victories, including the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy.

A $60,000 yearling purchase by Charles Winner, Sweet Queen is trained by Patrick Gallagher, who has high returns on investment with runners making their second start off a layoff.

While Sweet Queen is the only stakes-placed runner in the field, Tiza Diva is the lone entrant with a turf victory. She won an optional claimer on turf at Golden Gate Fields in May.

Dreamarcher has higher turf Beyer Speed Figures than Sweet Queen and is coming off a six-week-plus break with solid works.

Breakaway Dixie finished third in optional claimers in both of her turf starts, and the longshot She’s My Cookie ran second on turf against low-level claimers and fifth in a starter allowance.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sweet Queen, by Twirling Candy

Last 3 Beyers: 75-72-68

◗ She notched the highest Beyer of her career in her last start.

◗ She figures to be setting or pressing the pace in a race without much speed.

Dreamarcher, by Archarcharch

Last 3 Beyers: 79-82-73

◗ Her best effort in four turf races came two starts back, when she was beaten a neck against older in an optional claimer at Golden Gate.

◗ She’ll likely be trailing early and do her best running in the stretch.