BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Queen Maxima, a winner of her last two starts, has been installed as the 3-5 morning line favorite for the $100,000 Wishing Well at Santa Anita Park Saturday, a six-furlong turf contest for fillies and mares.
Trained by Jeff Mullins, the 4-year-old Queen Maxima began her two-race winning streak on Dec. 29 with a half-length victory in a first condition, $50,000 optional claiming going six furlongs on the turf course at Santa Anita. More recently, she was a three-and-half-length winner of a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs on the Santa Anita downhill turf course on Jan. 23.
Her versatility was on display in both wins as she came from nearly six-lengths back to win the Dec. 29 contest but pressed the pace throughout in her last race.
This will be her second attempt against stakes fillies and mares after finishing second to Toupie in the $102,000 Unzip Me (Listed) at six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 28.
Queen Maxima has won half of her six career starts with two seconds while earning $150,900 for Irving Ventures LLC and Michele Arthur. She was purchased for $40,000 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)
Bred in Florida by Saul Rosas, Queen Maxima is by Bucchero out of the winning Corfu mare Corfu Lady.
Juan Hernandez will ride Queen Maxima from the inside post one.
The second choice in the program at 7-2 is Stay and Scam, winner of the $102,000 Fran’s Valentine going a mile on the Santa Anita turf in May. Running exclusively in stakes in five starts since, the Reddam Racing LLC homebred enters off a second-place finish to Shocking Grey in the $125,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint presented by John Deere going about six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 18.
The 5-year-old daughter of Square Eddie has won six with four seconds and five thirds in 18 career races while earning $465,360.
Trainer Doug O’Neill has given the riding assignment on Stay and Scam to Frankie Dettori and they have drawn post five.
Other fillies and mares set for the Wishing Well are Laulne (Fr) with Flavien Prat named to ride, Artic Breeze with William Antongeorgi III in the irons, Ma Rae’s Girl and jockey Edwin Maldonado and Hector Berrios will be aboard Miss Roberts (GB).
Return to the February 20 issue of Wire to Wire
