Spanish Queen Unmatched in Honeymoon Victory

A neck back in her first stakes try in the Providencia (gr. IIIT), there was no denying Spanish Queen in her second, the $200,000 Honeymoon (gr. IIT)  May 3 at Santa Anita Park.



The 3-year-old Tribal Rule filly tracked early leader and Providencia winner Spirit of Xian through most of the 1 1/8-mile grass test, found room between horses exiting the final turn, and rushed past her rival in the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 48-1 longshot Sharla Rae. Spirit of Xian tired and was 2 3/4 lengths back in third.



Under moderate pressure from Screaming Skylar, Spirit of Xian set early fractions of :23.07, :46.81, and 1:10.80 through six furlongs while Spanish Queen sat comfortably in third.



The California-bred filly was in tight quarters on the rail on the final turn, but found space between Spirit of Xian and Singing Kitty at the top of the stretch.



"I was just waiting—'Oh, I hope something opens up,' " winning jockey Brice Blanc said with a laugh. "I could see (trainer) Richard (Baltas) pulling the rest of the hair he has out. I was going to get chewed out."



"He did make such a good move at the top of the lane to split horses," Baltas added.



Off as the 3-1 second choice, Spanish Queen finished the distance in 1:47.24 over a turf course rated firm.



The winner paid $8, $4.60, and $3.80 across the board. Sharla Rae delivered $31 and $16, and Spirit of Xian returned $3.80. The $1 exacta brought $97 and the $1 trifecta paid $599.90.



"She has a hell of a turn of foot and she just looked loaded the whole way," Baltas said, with a package of celebratory cigars in his hand.



Out of the Unusual Heat mare Spanish Bunny, Spanish Queen won her first graded stakes with the Honeymoon score, in only her third career start. She broke her maiden impressively—by 5 3/4 lengths—at first asking March 5, in a mile maiden special weight grass race at Santa Anita.



"She keeps improving," said Blanc, who also works out the filly in the mornings. "Richard has done a great job... She's getting more and more professional. She has so many gears, she has a good turn of foot and she puts me in good spots, as well. She's done everything well and she even seemed like she was a step better than her last race. She just needs to keep improving. She's special."



Spanish Queen improved her career earnings to $183,600 for owners/breeders Jack Nakkashian, Harry Bederian, and Harout Kamberian with the $120,000 winner's share.



Prize Exhibit closed to finish fourth, followed by Lutine Belle, Entrechat, Singing Kitty, Screaming Skylar, and Star Via Strada. Havanna Belle was scratched.