Kicking off the stakes action on Saturday afternoon was the $50,000 Queen Stakes for older fillies and mares sprinting 6 furlongs. Pola's Place was quickest out of the gate and was allowed an uncontested 1 1/2 length lead down the backstretch through fractions of 21.91 and 44.78, then opening up to 2 lengths in midstretch after 5 furlongs in 57.15. Victorianna, who stalked her in second throughout, closed the gap in the final furlong but Pola's Place held her off by 3/4 length, getting the gate-to-wire victory in 1:10.37. It was just a head back to Just for Keeps, while favorite Gem Sleuth was sixth early, took the turn very wide, and showed no rally, finishing seventh.
Results chart
Winning jockey Thomas Pompell said, "I was told to let her break and there was really nothing that could go with her if she did. She relaxed very nicely and just kept on going. She's a very nice filly to ride."
Trainer David Pate added, "I love this filly today. We made a little bit of a mistake with her going in the last stakes (Wishing Well, Jan. 12), and she came out with a lung
infection. But other than that race, she has run very well. This is a very good filly. I had told Randy Wehrman (stakes coordinator) I thought she was the best filly on the grounds."
