Queen Maxima Gets the Job Done in Las Cienegas

As a 2-5 favorite with the second choice listed at 8-1, Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures Queen Maxima was practically being handed the victory ahead of the $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) by the bettors. When the Santa Anita Park starting gate opened Jan. 11, she did not disappoint those expectations. Although Princesa Moche (PER), after setting a pace of :22.10 and :44.15, did not relent down the lane and made the daughter of Bucchero work for her half-length victory, Queen Maxima got the job done for her eighth victory in 13 starts. "Anybody in this game ought to experience a horse like this," trainer Jeff Mullins told FanDuel TV's Kurt Hoover as he walked to the winner's circle. "This mare is something else. It's amazing the things she's done so far." "She is pretty amazing," Dutch Girl Holding's Michele Arthur told Santa Anita's Jessica Pyfer. "We are so happy to have her in our lives. We are very lucky." The now 5-year-old has been on a roll since December 2024, winning seven of her last nine starts. Sunday's triumph marked her fifth stakes win and third in graded company after taking Santa Anita's Monrovia Stakes (G3T) and the Unbridled Sidney Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs last spring. That nine-race streak has also coincided with Juan Hernandez taking over in the saddle. "Juan knows her so well, when you leg him up, you have so much confidence," Mullins said. "He comes out and works her in the morning every time she breezes, so it's like driving his own car." That strong relationship was evident in the Las Cienegas as Hernandez guided the mare out of the No. 1 post and over to save ground around the right-handed bend of Santa Anita's downhill turf course. He then got a perfect tracking position in second as he tipped outside of Princesa Moche. Entering the stretch, Hernandez exuded confidence as he crossed the dirt track like a statue before calling on his mare to begin her charge. Despite Princesa Moche not going away, it still seemed inevitable that Queen Maxima would prevail, which she did while completing about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:11.69 while paying $2.80 to win. Spicybug was third. “She is really professional we had a really good trip," Hernandez told Santa Anita publicity. "I was really comfortable all the race, I felt under my knees I had a lot of horse. I crossed the dirt and I waited a little bit longer and she put in a good run. She is so smart and knows where the wire is at.” Bred in Florida by Saul Rosas, Queen Maxima is out of the winning Corfu mare Corfu Lady. Consigned by Blue River Bloodstock at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale, she was purchased by agent Michael Pender for $40,000. She has now earned $630,460.