The Mean Queen, a 6-year-old Irish-bred mare by Doyen—Gail Borden, by Kris Kin, was a dominant figure in steeplechasing in 2021. The chestnut mare made eight starts—a hefty amount for a chaser—and won six. After two starts in Ireland in the spring, she came stateside to win five of six, culminating with a hat trick of grade 1 affairs throughout the summer and fall at Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, and Far Hills in New Jersey.
The Mean Queen races for Mr. and Mrs. Rodman Moorhead III's Buttonwood Farm deep in hunt country near West Grove, Pa. Keri Brion trains the mare, but for many years the Moorheads used Hall of Fame conditioner Jonathan Sheppard, who had a family connection to the couple through his first marriage and retired at the end of 2020.
The Mean Queen's streak of victories followed the July 28 Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes at the Spa where she lost her rider, Tom Garner, but she returned Aug. 18 under Garner to romp in the Jonathan Sheppard Handicap (NSA-1) over yielding going at Saratoga. She was a two-length winner at Belmont in the Lonesome Glory Handicap (NSA-1) and eked out a half-length victory over Snap Decision in the sport's top event, the Grand National Hurdle Stakes (NSA-1) in New Jersey. Her last two scores came under Richard Condon.
