BALTIMORE, Md. – Joanne Shankle’s Can the Queen, beaten less than three lengths in the Jameela Stakes last out after setting the pace, came from just off the pace Saturday to win the $100,000 Sensible Lady at Pimlico Race Course by 1 ¾ lengths over Flyingontheground. What a Trick finished third while 7-5 favorite Golden Can was fourth.
Can the Queen, a 5-year-old daughter of Can the Man, covered a firm five-furlong turf course in :56.41 under jockey Victor Carrasco for trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon.
Can the Queen broke alertly and raced three-wide outside pacesetter What a Trick and Golden Can past an opening quarter in :21.63. After Golden Can dropped back a bit on the turn, Can the Queen chased What a Trick and jockey Feargal Lynch into the stretch before driving to the lead and finish line.
The mare set the pace in the Jameela July 4 with an opening quarter in :22.60 before finishing fourth.
“I’m so excited for this filly,” said Sanchez-Salomon. “I never expected her to run this good. She just needs a good ride, patient, and she can run a little bit. At the end when she started moving up, I was just hoping she wouldn’t stop because she usually stops a little bit when she gets in front. She got perfect ride. She wasn’t rushed in the beginning; she was just sitting there waiting for the moment to move on.”
“The instructions were to be forwardly placed,” Carrasco said. “I got out there the first few jumps to make sure I’m on the lead or second and then when we got near the quarter pole I was just sitting on her and I see Feargal already asking and I’m just sitting there. When I said go, she exploded and got the job done.”
Can The Queen has now won four of 12 starts. She was bred in Maryland by Carol Ann Kaye.
Maryland Jockey Club Press Release
Photo: Can the Queen (MJC)
