By Steve Sherack
The Queens M G (Thousand Words), winner of last summer's GIII Adirondack S. and Schuylerville S. at Saratoga, rode the rail to a decisive victory in Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park, good for 37.5 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks.
Drawn on the fence and off as the 9-5 second-choice, she traveled nicely on the inside through an opening quarter in :24.24, slipped through along the inside beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. at the top of the stretch and took off nicely from there to win by 2 3/4 lengths over favored La Cara (Street Sense).
Third in the Tempted S. going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct Nov. 2, The Queens M G finished in that same position in her 3-year-old debut in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Forward Gal S. at Gulfstream Feb. 1.
“I didn't want [her] to take dirt, but Irad is a master at securing a spot,” winning trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said. “That was a top-class ride. Not many riders could produce that kind of ride. Tactically, at every spot he made every right decision.”
Joseph added, “Her last race was very, very good. I thought she would move forward huge. I didn't know she'd move forward enough to win it, but I thought how she ran last time gave me confidence she'd moved forward from two to three. She's not a big filly. The obvious question is: was she early and precocious? But after the last race, I was very happy with her run.”
The Queens M G is likely to return in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Mar. 29 on the GI Curlin Florida Derby undercard.
Pedigree Notes:
Just a $3,500 Fasig-Tipton October yearling buy and a private purchase after her debut win at Keeneland last April, The Queens M G is the lone graded winner for second-crop sire Thousand Words. The unplaced Grindstone mare Show Queen had a filly by Independence Hall in 2024 and was bred back to Highly Motivated. This is the extended female family of GSW & GISP and $5-million FTKNOV Coolmore purchase Untouched Talent (Storm Cat), the dam of GISW Bodemeister (Empire Maker).
The Queens M G scores in the @FasigTiptonCo Davona Dale S. G2, third victory in a row for @iradortiz! #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/LyoYnaC5pn
— Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) March 1, 2025
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
FASIG-TIPTON DAVONA DALE S.-GII, $200,000, Gulfstream, 3-1, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:37.85, ft.
1–THE QUEENS M G, 120, f, 3, by Thousand Words
1st Dam: Show Queen, by Grindstone
2nd Dam: Talent Queen, by Elusive Quality
3rd Dam: Parade Queen, by A.P. Indy
($3,500 Ylg '23 FTKOCT). O-C2 Racing Stable LLC and Mathis Stable LLC; B-T.F. VanMeter, Samuel Hernandez, Jesus Torres, Justin Vinalay (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $124,000. Lifetime Record: 8-4-0-2, $422,480. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–La Cara, 123, f, 3, Street Sense–Cara Caterina, by Bernardini. O/B-Tracy Farmer (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $40,000.
3–Ballerina d'Oro, 118, f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–In the Moonlight, by Tapit. ($320,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-Rodeo Creek Racing, LLC; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $20,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, NO, 5HF. Odds: 1.90, 1.10, 2.00.
Also Ran: Madeline's Promise, Frida. Scratched: My Denysse, Quinn's Promise.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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