ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 2, 2022)–With the outcome never in doubt, heavily favored Edgeway was in complete command from her rail post en route to a 1 ¾ length win in Sunday’s $75,000 Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita. Trained by John Sadler and ridden to victory by John Velazquez, Edgeway, a 5-year-old mare by Competitive Edge, got 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.85.
“I watched her run, obviously, she runs really good races,” said Velazquez, who notched his third stakes win of the young meet and who was aboard for the first time today. “Today, the strategy was to chase them or chase me. I broke (well), let her run to the lead and let them catch me…When I asked her to run she responded right away, so I’m very proud.”
Most recently second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 6, Edgeway was off at 2-5 in a field of four older fillies and mares and with no show wagering, she paid $2.80 and $2.10.
“That was really good,” Kosta Hronis, of Hronis Racing, LLC. “She bounced out of the Breeders’ Cup really well. I think the plan was to give her a little bit more of a break, but she’s been asking to run, John had her all trained up and ready to go. It’s an honor to have John. Any time we can have jockeys like this on the West Coast, we’re always happy to see that.”
Out of the Stormin Fever mare Magical Solution, Edgeway, who took the Grade III Rancho Bernardo Stakes two races back on Aug. 20, is now a two-time stakes with winner. With the winner’s share from today’s win of $47,160, she increased her earnings to $596,360.
Merneith, who had been idle for Bob Baffert since winning the Grade II Santa Monica Stakes here Feb. 13, stalked the winner to the top of the lane, but was unable to keep up when Edgeway opened up three lengths turning for home. Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, she kept to her task and finished 5 ½ lengths clear of Stellar Sound while paying $2.40 to place.
Fractions on the race were 22.15, 44.96 and 1:09.95.
Santa Anita Press Release
Photo: Edgeway (Benoit Photo)
