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Sport of Queens Crowned In Steward's Cup Juvenile Fillies
Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 13 years 3 weeks agoA few years ago, a nicely bred filly named Babe Ruth hit a home run in the Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies romping off to win it by three lengths.
The elegant dark bay mare has put her championship career behind her and has proven to be very nice in the breeding shed. But it was Sport of Queens who emulated her dam, capturing the Juvenile Fillies this season by a mere neck over Capricious, smoking the 1 1/16 mile distance on the dirt oval at Single Star Park in 1:43.90.
Sport of Queens remained undefeated in her first season and this dark bay filly is bred and owned by Laura Ferguson. She’s by California, a Hall of Famer who pensioned the year that she was born, leading to widespread mourning across the globe at the loss of this powerful sire. But in his final crop to hit the races, the stallion has enacted his revenge against the pensioning forces by siring such a stellar filly. He got the news while out at pasture still flirting with his adoring public and trotted around in celebration mode.
This daughter of his showed a lot of speed in the morning, nearing the 58 standard for five furlongs and zipping four furlongs in 46.20. When she started racing, she never ran a false step. Her first two races were at a mile and with her speed that proved to be no problem at all, as she romped in her first race winning by nearly six lengths. But when she stretched out, she proved that she appreciated the extra real estate when she defeated Light Storm in the Bodega Bay Stakes.
So the next logical step for the bold filly was of course, the Steward’s Cup where she would meet up with the sisters of her class including those who had made some noise of their own on the way to the most important race yet of their young careers.
Capricious who’s owned by Cleo Patra cost her $1.65 million at auction but the daughter of Tot Ziens and broodmare Skittish had a nearly perfect record as well. She finished second in her first race at a mile. She proved that routing was her deal when she put together a string of wins after breaking her maiden first time past a mile. She won the Five Fading Lights Stakes and an allowance during her brief stay in the barn of Art Vandelay, a sleeper of a trainer who skillfully continued her winning streak before she went back to Cleo Patra.
Vandelay’s future stud Highly Regarded had been making eyes at the brassy filly but Capricious has kept her focus on racing and went into the Juvenile Fillies ready to conquer the field to position herself for a huge campaign next year.
Under Red Skies bred and owned by Janena Olson loomed large as well winning her two starts including the Spirituality Stakes. The daughter of Long Island Classic winner Sun Tzu has looked like a filly who’s impressive while still developing. Best of the Future, purchased by Paul Heinrich for $3.509 million is a half sister to Steward's Cup Juvenile winner Just Victory and finished second in the Spirituality Stakes after winning her first two starts.
Tour cost $10 million at auction for current owner Larry Burndorf and she’s a daughter of top stud East and out of Lokite Royalty which means she’s a half sister to some stellar horses including this year’s Long Island Classic winner Saharan Ace. She came into this race undefeated in three starts, two of them stakes victories.
Brian Leavitt had To Sirius, a daughter of Fire Added Starter out of an Original Tough Guy mare named Best and Brightest. Often that sire, himself a Baltimore Crown winner, has produced milers but he’s capable of siring routers as well. To Sirius had finished a close second in the Long Island Matron Stakes the last time out and hoped that the extra yardage wouldn’t be her undoing but a bonus.
The fillies, all eager to take off running danced through the post parade in front of the crowded grandstand. Brothers Drake and Wayne Wolf who both had mounts in this race agreed to go out for drinks afterward then put on their game faces as they neared the starting gate.
When the gate opened, Our Khrysty, the winner of the Sky Flyer Stakes took the lead over Tour and Sport of Queens settled in fourth behind Desert Life as the field of 14 horses battled for position. As they hit the backstretch, Our Khrysty stretched her lead out to two lengths over Tour who had Desert Life at her flank while Sport of Queens hung tough in the fourth spot. With plenty of real estate left to run, she bode her time before she’d launch into full gear. Jockey Michael Moody who had wisely avoided the party circuit the previous night knew he had plenty of filly left.
As they hit the far turn, Sport of Queens began to move up into the second spot, creeping up within a neck of Our Khrysty Capricious proving to be anything but made a bold move up to remain close to Sport of Queens. But Sport of Queens proved she was at least the princess of her class, when she fired up fiercely and dueled with Capricious down the line to prevail at the end. But Capricious didn’t yield easily proving her mettle and finished second by 2 ¾ over a whirling dervish of a filly in To Sirius who closed from nearly last place to finish third.
Sport of Queens received much praise in the winner’s circle for her efforts, to mention her combination of raw speed and stamina which should bode well for her next year.