Queen Goddess Eyes Third Meet Win in Santa Barbara

A grade 1 winner on opening day, Dec. 26, the Michael McCarthy-trained Queen Goddess  bids for her third graded stakes win of the meet as she heads a field of six fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/2 miles on turf May 14 in the $125,000 Santa Barbara Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.

A winner of the opening day American Oaks (G1) at a mile and one quarter on dirt, Queen Goddess was subsequently a disappointing fifth in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) on dirt at Oaklawn Park Feb. 12, but came back to Santa Anita to register an impressive 1 1/2-length win over grade 1 stakes winner Going to Vegas  and multiple group/graded stakes winner Neige Blanche  in the Santa Ana Stakes (G3T) March 26.

Although Neige Blanche should appreciate the added quarter mile, Queen Goddess, who will be ridden back by Victor Espinoza from post 1, galloped out in the Santa Ana as though 1 1/2 miles would be to her liking as well. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and TOLO Thoroughbreds, Queen Goddess is a 4-year-old filly by Empire Maker  out of the Lemon Drop Kid  stakes-placed mare Royal Story .

Trained by Leonard Powell, Neige Blanche is the winner of the Astra Stakes (G3T) two starts back on Jan. 17 and is the defending champ in the Santa Barbara and is unbeaten in two tries at the distance.

Off at 7-1 in the Santa Ana, she was beaten a diminishing nose by Going to Vegas for second money in a big effort under regular rider Juan Hernandez. A 5-year-old French-bred mare, Neige Blanche has won four turf stakes, two of them at 1 3/8 miles, from 11 stateside starts with Powell. Although she has proven ability from off the pace, she can also go to the front, as she did in taking Del Mar's Red Carpet Handicap (G3T) in gate to wire fashion three starts back on Nov. 25.

Owned by Madaket Stables, Laura De Seroux, Marsha Naify, and Mathilde Powell, Neige Blanche had three wins from six starts in her native France, including the Prix Cleopatre (G3) at 3.

Neige Blanche will be ridden by Hernandez from post 4.

Completing the lineup are winners New Heat , Queen Ofthe Temple , Cover Version , and Carpe Vinum .