BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-breds Queen Maxima and Epona’s Hope both look to extend significant winning streaks as they travel to Churchill Downs for Friday’s Grade 3 Unbridled Sidney presented by Cygames. Nine fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older, are set to sprint five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf in pursuit of the winner’s share of the $400,000 purse with Queen Maxima tabbed as the 2-1 second choice on the morning line and Epona’s Hope at 6-1 in the program.

Trained by Jeff Mullins, Queen Maxima has won her last four on the grass at Santa Anita, including a four-and-a-quarter-length domination of the Grade 3 Monrovia going six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill turf course on April 5. 

 

Her span of consecutive wins began again first condition, $50,000 optional claiming going six furlongs on the Santa Anita turf in December and continued with a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming victory at six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill course on Jan. 23. She then won the $300,000 Wishing Well on Feb. 22 while returning to six furlongs on the grass before taking the Monrovia.

 

Queen Maxima has earned $270,900 for owners Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC from five wins and two seconds in eight starts. She was a $40,000 purchased by agent Michael Pender at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale where she was consigned by Blue River Bloodstock.
(Queen Maxima’s Under Tack Video / Walking Video)

By Bucchero out of Corfu Lady, by Corfu, Queen Maxima was bred in Florida by Saul Rosas.

Juan Hernandez, who has ridden Queen Maxima in all of the aforementioned victories, travels to Churchill Downs to retain the mount. Queen Maxima will break from the outside post nine.

Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing and Laurie Plesa’s Epona’s Hope ships to Churchill from her base in South Florida where she is trained by Eddie Plesa. However, she will be saddled on Friday by trainer J. T. Servis.

The 4-year-old daughter of Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie has won her last three races on the Gulfstream Park turf, all at five furlongs. She started her winning ways on Jan. 12 with a two-and-a-quarter-length score against second condition, $62,500 optional claimers before winning the $135,000 Ladies Turf Sprint on Feb. 8. Epona’s Hope enters off a solid length-and-a-quarter victory in the $108,000 Captiva Island on March 15.

 

Epona’s Hope is out of Alotofappeal, by Trippi and was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, Edward Wiest and William J. Terrill. She has banked $364,118 from winning half of her 12 career starts with one second and three thirds after being purchased for $295,000 out of the Ocala Stud consignment by her current ownership team at the 2023 OBS March Sale.
(Epona’s Hope’s Under Tack Video)

Joel Rosario will be aboard for the fourth straight time and they have post five.

Queen Maxima and Epona’s Hope look to join Florida-breds Ambassador Luna, winner of the 2020 Unbridled Sidney; and Wild About Marie, who took the 2012 edition of the race.

Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran’s Ag Bullet is the 8-5 morning line favorite for trainer Richard Baltas.

The 5-year-old mare makes her first start of the year, and first since Dec. 1 when third behind winner Sacred Wish in the Grade 1 Matriarch going a mile on the grass at Del Mar. She was also third, just a neck behind winner Starlust (GB) in the $920,000 Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

An earner of $1,337,828, Ag Bullet’s last victory came in August when she took the Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint by more than five lengths going six-and-a-half furlongs on the unique turf course at Kentucky Downs. That was her second straight stakes victory after winning the $101,000 Osunitas going a mile on the turf at Del Mar on July 21.

Ag Bullet is by Twirling Candy out of Noble Grey, by Forestry and has won half of her 12 career starts with two thirds.

She will be ridden from post four by Umberto Rispoli.

Rounding out the field are Cloudwalker with jockey Gerardo Corrales, Awesome Treat will be ridden by Luan Machado, Flavien Prat takes the call on Gavea (Ger), Billing and rider Junior Alvarado, Crown Imperial will have Luis Saez aboard and Asternia with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle.

Return to the April 30 issue of Wire to Wire