ARCADIA, Calif.— Queen Ofthe Temple faces a daunting task trying to win her first stakes race Saturday in the Grade I Rodeo Drive Stakes.
The $300,000 race is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge race for fillies and mares three and up at 1 ¼ miles on the hillside turf course.
A four-year-old daughter of Temple City, the bay Kentucky-bred does have some plusses on her resume of eight races, however, including a third despite being crowded in the Grade III Santa Barbara Stakes at Santa Anita on May 14.
In addition, with a 1-4-2 record, Queen Ofthe Temple is as consistent as the sun rising in the east, runs well fresh and has a penchant for power-housing home in the stretch.
“The further the distance the better for her,” said 40-year-old Dan Blacker, who trains Queen Ofthe Temple for a partnership. “She’s doing really well and we felt taking a shot here would be a good move trying to get her some black type.
“She’ll like the distance, for sure, and we’re just hoping she gets a good trip and at least gets a piece of it.”
Queen Ofthe Temple will have her seventh different rider in this her ninth race, as Hector Berrios takes over.
“He had a great Del Mar and we’re pleased to have him on,” Blacker said.
The Rodeo Drive, which goes as race five: Queen Ofthe Temple, Hector Berrios, 30-1; Fluffy Socks, Joe Bravo, 2-1, last year’s Rodeo Drive winner Going to Vegas, Umberto Rispoli, 5-2; Scarabea, Abel Cedillo, 6-1; Neige Blanche, Juan Hernandez, 5-1; Bellamore, Kyle Frey, 15-1; and Family Way, Mike Smith, 5-2.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
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