Shenandoah Queen © Benoit Photo

Hronis Racing’s Shenandoah Queen, lightly-regarded at 20-1 despite the presence in the saddle of recently-inducted Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza, held off the belated challenge of odds-on favored Faithfully to win the featured $78,545 Tranquility Lake Stakes for older fillies and mares Friday.

Hustled from the gate by Espinoza to take a prominent position in the early stages of the one-mile contest on the main dirt track, Shenandoah Queen overhauled pacesetting Street Surrender turning for home and then gamely responded when confronted by Faithfully, the 3-5 betting choice, to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:36.30.

Faithfully, who was piloted by Rafael Bejarano, was five and three-quarter lengths of third-place Motown Lady, with Street Surrender fading to fourth in the field of six. Withdrawn were Chalon and Mended.

Shenandoah Queen, a five-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes trained by John Sadler, returned $42.20, $9.20 and $3.80 after her fifth win in eleven starts. First money of $46,920 boosted her career earnings to $111,300. Faithfully paid $2.60 and $2.10, while Motown Lady returned $2.60 to show.