Miacomet Farm’s Here the Queen, owned by Michael Pietrangelo, triumphed over seven other 3-year-old fillies to claim the $100,000 Pago Hop at the Fairgrounds on Saturday. Trained by Brad Cox, Here the Queen delivered a flawless performance under jockey Marcelino Pedrosa Jr., finishing the race on the New Orleans Racecourse turf in 1 minute, 43.91 seconds.
Pedrosa shared his strategy, saying, “I saved the filly perfectly. I planned to follow the two leaders and wait for the ideal moment to make my move. When Caviar Breakfast gained ground on the outside turn, I took that spot, and my filly finished strong.”
Starting by challenging Cheetah Lady out of the gate, Here the Queen quickly tucked in behind leader Ninth Island, who set a steady pace with early times of 23.76 and 49.14 seconds, while Caviar Breakfast advanced on the outside. Maintaining that slot into the far turn, Here the Queen then shifted out as Caviar Breakfast moved past Ninth Island to take the lead. Despite closing in to just one length behind, Here the Queen held off Cheetah Lady, who surged through the middle of the pack to finish second. Sea to Sky secured third place.
Here the Queen’s win paid $7.40. The filly, an Audible mare out of Animal Kingdom mare Behold the Queen (AUS), earned her first stakes victory in just her first try, improving her career record to four wins, one loss, and one tie from nine starts, with earnings totaling $225,831. She was bred in Kentucky by William B. Harrigan, the director of Myrecomment Farm.
Fan Take: This victory signals the rise of a promising new talent in Here the Queen, thrilling horse racing enthusiasts eager for fresh stars. Her impressive performance in a competitive field highlights the sport’s ongoing excitement and the potential for new rivalries that keep fans eagerly watching.
