By Alan Carasso
Connections had Queen Maxima (Bucchero) under serious consideration for another start against the boys in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, but instead opted for Friday's sex-restricted $200,000 Listed Senator Ken Maddy Stakes over those same five furlongs. Firming into 7-5 favoritism in the final tick or two, the dual graded winner made that decision look good when racing over the top of her rivals to post a soft victory while snapping a baby two-race skid.
Having found trouble when 2 3/4 lengths' sixth as the favorite in the one-mile Osunitas Stakes and again when filling the same spot, beaten two lengths to Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in a roughly run GIII Green Flash Handicap Aug. 30, the Florida-bred chestnut broke running and raced not far from the lead and between rivals in the second flight through the opening exchanges. Juan Hernandez wisely took a tug and eased Queen Maxima back to race behind a wall of three at the midpoint of the turn as her year-younger chief market rival Shoot It True (Munnings)–perfect in two starts on the grass at Saratoga over the summer and getting four pounds from the favorite–made her move.
Slipstreaming that rival into the stretch three and four wide, Queen Maxima was pulled off heels passing the eighth pole and went on to score under tender hands-and-heels from Hernandez. The same connections were to be represented by 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile later on the program.
“She's back again. She was training really good in the mornings and she ran well today,” said Hernandez. “I had to check a little bit at the three-eighths pole because the horse in front of me slowed down. I was a little close to her, so I had to grab her a little bit, but she's really smart. She came back to me and after that, I was waiting to pick the right time to start making our move. I swung outside, and she gave me another big kick like she did before.”
A debut winner over course and distance some 15 months ago, Queen Maxima strung together a five-race streak over the winter and early sprint, including victories in the GIII Monrovia Stakes down the hill at Santa Anita Apr. 5 and in the GIII Unbridled Sidney Stakes on Kentucky Oaks day May 2. That field included Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy), a top contender in Saturday's Turf Sprint. Short of room when trying to rally inside in the Osunitas, she was bothered badly at the break of the Green Flash, effectively losing all chance.
Along with Sprint divisional leader Book'em Danno, Queen Maxima is one of two graded winners for her New York-based stallion, who covered better than 190 mares at Ironhorse Stallions in 2025. Bucchero will stand for a fee of $12,500 in 2026. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
SENATOR KEN MADDY S. PRESENTED BY BREEDERS' CUP CHARITIES, $201,000, Del Mar, 10-31, 3yo/up, f/m, 5fT, :56.57, fm.
1–QUEEN MAXIMA, 124, f, 4, Bucchero–Corfu Lady, by Corfu. ($40,000 2yo '23 OBSOPN). O-Dutch Girl Holdings LLC & Irving Ventures LLC; B-Saul Rosas (FL); T-Jeff Mullins; J-Juan J Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 12-7-2-0, $570,460.
2–Shoot It True, 120, f, 3, Munnings–To the Moon Alice, by Malibu Moon. ($340,000 Ylg '23 SARAUG). O-Ice Wine Stable & Smart Choice Stable; B-Old Tavern Farm LLC (NY); T-Wesley A Ward. $40,000.
3–Nay V Belle, 122, f, 4, Midshipman–Cafe Belle, by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE. ($67,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $200,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Saints or Sinners; B-Scott Clarke, Reynard Bloodstock, Nicky Drion, S Murat & Michael Banahan (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $24,000.
Margins: 1, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.40, 1.60, 4.90.
Also Ran: Great Venezuela, Marian Cross (GB), Omnipontet (Brz), Jungle Peace (Ire). Scratched: Puro Magic (Jpn), Sunglow (Ire), Tahini.
#4 QUEEN MAXIMA ($4.80) rallied down the outside to win the $200,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes at @DelMarRacing. The daughter of Bucchero was ridden by @JJHernandezS19 and is trained by @Jmullinsracing. Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures owns. pic.twitter.com/syg4Ulx69w
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 31, 2025
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