Queen Bee to You © Benoit Photo
A solidly supported second choice at 3-1, Queen Bee to You surged to the lead turning into the stretch and went on to score an impressive triumph in the featured $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes Sunday at Del Mar.
With jockey Flavien Prat in the saddle for his second victory of the afternoon, Queen Bee to You won by four and one-half lengths in 1:22.90 for the seven furlongs.
Shoe It N Moe It closed to be runner-up, three and one-quarter lengths in advance of the 3-5 favorite, Mo See Cal, who faded in the stretch. Fourth in the field of six older California-bred fillies and mares was Creative Instinct. Love a Honeybadger was scratched.
Queen Bee to You, owned by Christopher St. Hilaire and Adam Vali of Newport Beach, Ca., and trained by Andrew Lerner, recorded her sixth win in 31 starts. The five-year-old daughter of Old Topper was claimed for $50,000 December 1, 2016 from a maiden claiming race at Del Mar. First money of $60,000 pushed her career earnings to $481,770.
The winner returned $8, $4.80 and $2.60. Second-place Show It N Moe It paid $7.80 and $3.20, while Mo See Cal paid $2.10 to show.
Queen Bee to You provided Prat with his third consecutive success in the Betty Grable. He won with Majestic Heat in 2017 and Spiced Perfection a year ago. He also won Sunday’s sixth race on Madame Bourbon at $4.
Thursday’s Del Mar program has been canceled because of a projection of inclement weather. However, racing is expected to resume Friday, with first post 12:p.m.
FLAVIEN PRAT (Queen Bee to You, winner) – “We (he and trainer Andrew Lerner) liked the outside post. When I asked her on the turn, she really went. She’s won at a mile before, but I think seven eighths is just right for her.”
RAFAEL BEJARANO (Show It N Moe It, second) – “This was her first time coming from off the pace. She usually likes to be right up front. But I knew she’d have to come from off it to win here. She gave it a good try, but the winner was much the best today.
ABEL CEDILLO (Mo See Cal, third) – “I had a good trip. She was sitting in a perfect spot. She just didn’t have enough at the finish.”
ANDREW LERNER (Queen Bee to You, winner) – “We put this mare in some tough spots. Two against the boys, one in the Clement Hirsch. We tried some different things with her. I’m glad she vindicated us today. It’s a great feeling and an emotional win. She’s versatile, she can run on dirt or grass, but we’ve had trouble finding races for her. It’s a matter of finding the right spot and the right distance. Her last race really sharpened her for this.”
FRACTIONS: :22.82 :45.33 1:10.03 1:22.90
The stakes win is the first of the meet for rider Prat, but his third straight in the Betty Grable. He now has 44 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win is the first of the meet for trainer Lerner and his first in the Betty Grable. This is also his first stakes win at Del Mar.
The winning owners are Christopher St. Hilaire and Adam Vali, both of Newport Beach, CA. The owners claimed the winner for $50,000 out of a maiden-claiming race at Del Mar on December 1, 2016.