Turf sprint allowance contenders come out of hot stakes

Queen Maxima has established herself as a leader of the turf sprint division, riding a four-race win streak, including a course record-setting performance in the Grade 3 Unbridled Sidney on May 1 at Churchill Downs. Several who finished behind her, led by runner-up Crown Imperial, find easier company Friday in an allowance/optional-claiming race with a purse of $141,000 for fillies and mares sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the Churchill turf.

The conditions of the race allow fillies and mares who have never won three times other-than; who have never won four races; who have not won two other-than on turf in 2024-25; or those running for a claiming price of $100,000.

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Stakes winner Crown Imperial, who won a Keeneland allowance in her first start of the year, got a nice stalking trip in the Unbridled Sidney when beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Queen Maxima. Bling was fourth in the Unbridled Sidney, and Asternia was eighth.

Crown Imperial should have plenty of speed to track outside of her. Moonlit Lady, who won her only prior start on the Churchill turf in front-running fashion, set the pace before fading to sixth in a Keeneland allowance last month. The race was won by Pipsy, who is bound for a graded stakes next month in New York. Bling finished second, beaten two lengths.

Moonlit Lady drew the rail here, with Paynt Ya Later, who dueled to win a Churchill allowance on May 1, immediately to her outside.

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