Classy pacer Lion Queen warmed up in fine style for the $100,000 Westbred Classic for four-year-old mares next Friday night with a decisive victory in the Anne Gartrell Member Since 2025 Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
At her first outing for six weeks Lion Queen, the $2.20 favourite, began from the outside barrier in the field of eight and relaxed at the rear while her five-year-old stablemate Heez Good As Gold ($7) was setting a solid pace.
Shannon Suvaljko bided his time until he sent Lion Queen forward, with a three-wide burst 450m from home, and the mare went four wide approaching the turn before she hit the front on the corner and went on to beat $23 chance Shes A Tiny Dancer by two lengths, rating 1.58.
“Lion Queen will only improve on that run,” said trainer Mike Reed. “I’ve been freshening her up to have her ready for next week’s big race.”
Reed and Suvaljko agreed that the brilliant Water Lou was the stable’s No. 1 candidate for the Westbred Classic. Water Lou impressed at her first appearance for ten weeks earlier in the night when she was eighth at the bell before running home strongly, out five wide, to finish an eye-catching fourth behind Rockandrollartist.
“Shannon said that if Lion Queen draws one for next week’s race and Water Lou draws out wide, he could think about driving Lion Queen,” said Reed. “But I still think that Water Lou would beat Lion Queen.
“Water Lou would have to draw terribly bad, and Lion Queen would have to draw terribly good.”
Lion Queen is by American sire Control The Moment and is the eighth foal out of Walton Hanover mare Lilianna Beauty, who raced 134 times in America for ten wins, 41 placings and $135,274. Lion Queen has earned $125,030 from nine wins and six placings from 22 starts.
