Spanish Queen Carries On in American Oaks

Spanish Queen continued her upward trajectory May 30 and is now a grade I winner after claiming the $400,000 American Oaks (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park .



The 3-year-old homebred daughter of Tribal Rule, who is owned by Harry Bederian, Harout Kamberian, and Hagop Nakkashian, stalked early leader Feathered on the rail through most of the 1 1/4-mile test. She tracked down her rival in the stretch to win by three quarters of a length under jockey Brice Blanc.

"She's just eating up the ground and getting better with every race," Blanc said. "She keeps improving and she loves her job. She has started trusting me more, so I can do a little more with her. I think she's learning how to be a good racehorse."

It was the first grade I win for the ownership group.

"We've been partners, Jack and I, almost 20 years," Bederian said. "She's unbelievable. I've never had a grade I winner, so I'm still not sure it's a reality, especially when we saw (3-5) odds on her. As you can see, I'm all sweaty. I was shaking. I was so nervous."

Feathered, with Tyler Baze aboard, maintained a half-length lead through a mile while being pressured on the outside by Mrs McDougal, setting fractions of :23.97, :47.68, and 1:12.24 through six furlongs. The leader hit a mile in 1:36.70 before Spanish Queen angled out and drove past.

Baze said his mount was pressured throughout.

"I really didn't know her, so I watched replays of her races, and it looked like she tried hard and never quit, and that's how she ran today" he said. "If we could've gotten a breather somewhere in the middle of the race, I think maybe we could've won today."



Heavily favored after claiming her first graded score last time out in the Honeymoon Stakes (gr. IIT) May 3, Spanish Queen has now won three of four career starts for trainer Richard Baltas.

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"It was a great ride by Brice," Baltas said. "He saved ground, she had to earn it, and she got it done. Brice has been on her every breeze (and) he's gotten to know her really well. She's not very big, but she's got a big heart and she's a lovely filly."

Spanish Queen gave Baltas his second grade I win on his 54th birthday. His first victory at the top level was with Big Macher in the 2014 Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar.

"It was a pretty big deal when Big Macher won the Bing Crosby, but I was never favored in (a) grade I race like I was today with Spanish Queen," Baltas said. "There's so much pressure, and when you win, there's a big sigh of congratulations and relief. This is a very special horse and I just got lucky to get her. This is the best birthday present I could ever have."



The winner hit the wire in a final time of 2:01.93 on firm turf and paid $3.40, $2.60, and $2.10 across the board. Feathered delivered $4.80 and $3.40. Consumer Credit, three quarters of a length back in third, returned $2.80 to show.

Bred in California out of the Unusual Heat mare Spanish Bunny, Spanish Queen now has $423,600 in earnings.

Mrs McDougal tired to finish fourth, followed by Sharla Rae and Dating Lady Luck completing the order of finish.