Queenston Stakes- $125.000 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds Foaled In Canada
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
April 22, 2018

There was no one beating Smokey Stover in the 12th running of the Queenston Stakes. The star trainer had two of the four entries in the field, and he seemed poised for a top-two finish with them. That is just how it played out, and while we put the wrong Smokey Stover horse on top, this was still his race, and it’s the first time that he has won it, doing so with Steel Tunes. The jockey, R M Hernandez, is also a first time winner. Congratulations to them! The time of victory was 1:21.68, and that sets a new record for the Queenston. Here’s a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.23; ½ Mile- :46.24)- The quickest out of the gate is John Henry’s Viento de Hierro, and he jumps out to an approximate two length lead over the eventual winner, Steel Tunes, from Smokey Stover. That one had In The Shed, out of Invicta Group Llc just to his outside while Smokey Stover’s second entry, Walkin Broomstick, trailed the field at a quarter mile. At a half mile, Viento de Hierro continued to pace the field without much pressure as Steel Tunes kept him in sight. The only change during the second quarter of the race had to do with In The Shed, and the fact that he dropped back several lengths. Trailing still was Walkin Broomstick, with four and a half lengths to make up.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5 To Go)- As the field made their way around the turn, Viento de Hierro continued to lead the field, but as they got closer to the stretch, that lead began evaporating pretty quickly. Steel Tunes was coming on in a methodical manner, and at the top of the stretch, had pulled up alongside Viento de Hierro. Walkin Broomstick was getting closer as well, cutting his deficit to two lengths, and looked like he would pose a threat for the win, though Smokey Stover had to be a happy man at this point. In The Shed was struggling.

(Finish- 1:21.68)- Without much drama, Steel Tunes completed the pass to the outside of Viento de Hierro and would win while driving. Viento de Hierro looked quite leg weary in the dying moments of the race, and Walkin Broomstick easily made the pass for second, though never really threatened his stablemate. In The Shed was a distant fourth, losing by about ten lengths.

About The Winner- Steel Tunes, trained by Smokey Stover and ridden to victory by R M Hernandez is a three year old gelding by To A Tune, and out of Fated Steel. He was bred in Ontario as a yearling by John Henry and acquired by Smokey Stover unraced in February 2017 in a $50.000 private sales transaction. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in eight starts, his third consecutive, and his first stake win. His career earnings are now $138.020.

Track: Fast
Time: :23¹  :46¹  1:09³  1:21³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 3 Paid 2.70

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded