Summarily dismissed as a complete no-hoper, Grupo Seven C Stable's Paola Queen proved the chief beneficiary of a total pace meltdown to light up the tote in Saturday's GI Test S. at Saratoga.
Runner-up to Kinsley Kisses (Congrats) in a seven-furlong Gulfstream maiden Jan. 16, the bay filly got her picture taken with a wire job going this trip on Valentine's Day. A decent second, one spot ahead of then-undefeated Off the Tracks, in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Apr. 2, Paola Queen was a well-beaten ninth to 'TDN Rising Star' Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss) in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 6 and most recently cut back to the mile to finish fifth of six to 'TDN Rising Star' Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) in the GI Acorn S. June 11.
Off the Tracks was first to break the line in the Test, but TDN Rising Star' Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro) soon joined the battle to her inside and they streaked through an opening quarter-mile in :21.74 as Lewis Bay (Bernardini) showed more pace than is her custom to lay third. Paola Queen was away well from the inside stall and raced in a close-up fourth, but looked to be going up and down on the turn following a half in a cracking :43.50. Kareena was first to hoist the white flag and Lewis Bay loomed boldly out three wide, but Off the Tracks kept on bravely despite the torrid fractions, though Lightstream was making headway from the back of the pack and Paola Queen was finding her second wind at the eighth pole. Lightstream was driven to the front outside of Off the Tracks as they raced towards the wire, but Paola Queen did the best work to be up in the final couple of jumps.
“I'm a grown man, and I cry,” said winning trainer Gustavo Delgado. “This is a very important race for me. I'm very happy. The [fast] pace was very important for us. I'm happy, everybody is happy. This is my first Grade I [in the United States].”
Pedigree Notes:
Paola Queen is the third Grade I winner overall and second this year at seven furlongs ('TDN Rising Star' Taris, Humana Distaff S.) for Flatter, a Grade III-placed full-brother to Congrats, whose daughter Turbulent Descent won the 2011 Test. Paola Queen is the third live produce for her dam, a $75,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling who was a two-time black-type winner at two and Grade III placed at three for owner Carl F. Pollard. The winner's second dam, the dual graded winner Raw Gold, is a half-sister to 2006 GI Del Mar Debutante S. winner Point Ashley (Point Given). Kadira is the dam of the 2-year-old filly Madison Kat (Discreetly Mine) and a yearling full-brother to Paola Queen, who sells through the Hermitage Farm consignment at the upcoming Keeneland September sale. Kadira was most recently bred to Tale of the Cat.
Saturday, Saratoga
TEST S.-GI, $500,000, SAR, 8-6, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:22.32, ft.
1–#@&PAOLA QUEEN, 116, f, 3, by Flatter
1st Dam: Kadira (MSW & GSP, $176,525), by Kafwain
2nd Dam: Raw Gold, by Rahy
3rd Dam: Golden Thatch, by Slew o' Gold
($180,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Grupo Seven C Stable; B-CFP
Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado; J-Luis Saez.
$300,000. Lifetime Record: 8-2-2-1, $427,490. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”hermitage-forcfpthoroughbreds”][bullet ad=”hermitage-full-bro-sells-keesep”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″][bullet ad=”purchased-by-off-the-hook”]2–Lightstream, 118, f, 3, Harlan's Holiday–North Beach, by
Arch. ($55,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Up Hill Stable and Head of
Plains Partners LLC; B-Ann Marie Farm (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch.
$100,000.[bullet ad=”sallusto-albina-double-bullet-private-purchase”]3–Off the Tracks, 122, f, 3, Curlin">Curlin–Harve de Grace, by Boston
Harbor. ($50,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Newtown Anner Stud and
J Stables; B-Lee McMillin (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $50,000.[bullet ad=”sbmtrainingandsales-brokenandtrained”][bullet ad=”sallusto-albina-double-bullet-private-purchase”][bullet ad=”chad-summers-purchased-by”]Margins: 3/4, NK, 4. Odds: 55.00, 4.30, 2.55.
Also Ran: Lewis Bay, One True Kiss, Kareena, Kinsley Kisses. Scratched: Malibu Stacy. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
