Tulsa Queen charges late to upset Duchess Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Tulsa Queen bullied her way between rivals in the stretch under journeyman Mario Pino to post an upset in Saturday’s $101,200 Duchess Stakes at Woodbine.

Tulsa Queen ($15.30) was rated into a trailing position on the backstretch, while the favored Conquest Vivi set moderate fractions in the seven-furlong event. Just Be Kind took aim at Conquest Vivi in the stretch, and looked the part of a winner at the eighth pole before Tulsa Queen came charging through to prevail by a half-length, in a time of 1:23.51.

My Arch Enemy closed wide to finish third, as Conquest Vivi faded to fourth in the six-horse field of 3-year-old fillies. Superduper Sky was scratched.

Based at Presque Isle Downs with trainer Ryan Walsh, Tulsa Queen, a daughter of Cactus Ridge, earned $60,000 owner Anne Walsh.

“She’s a nice filly,” Pino said. “When she got up in there, she got mad. She got faster. It was a tight spot, the only spot I had to go. I knew I had a lot of horse. Ryan did a terrific job. I liked her from the first time I rode her. The seven (furlongs) was perfect, even farther. She always has a good kick at the end. When she made the lead, her ears went right up, so I had plenty left.”