BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Queen Maxima has been tabbed as the 4-5 morning line favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Monrovia presented by Don Julio, a Grade 3 test for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and older set to go about six-and-a-half furlongs on Santa Anita’s unique downhill turf course.
The Jeff Mullins-trained Queen Maxima looks for her fourth consecutive victory and second straight stakes after winning the $100,000 Wishing Well going six furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita last out on Feb. 22.
A winner of four of seven career starts with two seconds, all on turf, the reliable Queen Maxima started her streak with a half-length victory in a first level, $40,000 optional claiming going six furlongs on Dec. 29. She then took a similar $50,000 optional claiming at six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill course on Jan. 23 before winning the Wishing Well by three-and-a-half lengths.
An earner of $210,900 for owners Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC. Queen Maxima is by Bucchero out of the Florida-bred mare Corfu Lady, by Corfu and was bred in Florida by Saul Rosas. She went through the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sale June Sale of 2-year-olds in training where she was purchased by Michael Pender as agent for $40,000 out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment.
(Queen Maxima’s Under Tack Video / Walking Video)
Queen Maxima has the outside post six and will be ridden again by Juan Hernandez.
Her main opposition is expected to come from Queen of the Mud (Ire), a Graham Motion-trained 5-year-old mare who was last seen winning the $92,000 Swingtime going a mile on the Santa Anita turf on Oct. 14.
That snapped a streak of three consecutive seconds in stakes for Queen of the Mud starting when she finished a length-and-a-quarter behind Florida-bred Beauty of the Sea in the $106,000 Goldwood at five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Monmouth Park in June. She was next a length behind winner Sunday Shoes in the $79,000 Satin N Lace going six furlongs on the synthetic track at Presque Isle Downs in August before a length shy of Loon Cry in the $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash going six furlongs on the Laurel Park grass on Sept. 14.
Queen of the Mud is by Kodiac (GB) out of Jawlaat (Ire), by Shamardal and has won three with three seconds and a third in eight starts. She has earned $212,599 for Go Go Greys Stable, Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group, Peter Deutsch and Michael E. Kisber.
Queen of the Mud is 5-2 in the program and Umberto Rispoli will ride from post four.
Others set for the Monrovia are Omaha Girl and jockey Antonio Fresu, Safa will be ridden by Tiago Pereira, Ang N Ash has Kyle Frey taking the call and Kazushi Kimura will be aboard Venganza.
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