Multiple graded stakes winner The Queens M G looks to build her résumé ahead of the first Friday in May when she makes her expected start in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park March 29. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies offers qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10.
The daughter of Thousand Words returned to her winning ways earlier in the month with a convincing win in the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) over the Mark Casse-trained La Cara. A $3,500 yearling purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, she earned back-to-back stakes wins at Saratoga Race Course during her juvenile season including a victory in the Adirondack Stakes (G3) last August. Irad Ortiz Jr. will be in the irons again for owners C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stable, and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
"Two turns is a question mark, but the way she handled the mile last time was very good," Joseph said. "And the way she trains, I don't think distance should be a problem for her. I couldn't tell you that she goes to the (Kentucky) Oaks. This is like her Oaks, to see where we're at and get an idea. If she were to win, there is a probability that she'd have to go."
Joseph sends out two other entries in Saturday's prep including Cash Run Stakes runner-up Paradise City, who is owned in partnership with C2 Racing Stable, Kuehne Racing, Shining Stables, Paul Braverman, and Timothy Pinch. She was recently seen winning an allowance optional claiming race by six lengths at Gulfstream Jan. 30. Edgard Zayas retains the mount.
New York-bred Early On, recently a game second in the March 15 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs, rounds out the Joseph trio. The daughter of Union Rags broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park Feb. 5. Edwin Gonzalez will ride for C2 Racing Stable, Ken. T. Reimer, Braverman, Pinch, and Bradley D. Kent.
Gatsas Stables homebred Five G, winner of the Cash Run Stakes and most recently second behind Quietside in the Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park, will break from post 4 under Tyler Gaffalione. The daughter of 2024 leading freshman sire Vekoma is trained by George Weaver.
"She came out of the 13-hole there and that's a tough post to win from, although the horse that won was right inside her," Mike Gatsas said of the filly's performance in the Honeybee. "We had to go. We had no choice but to go being that wide. We're hoping that in this race she performs the way she did Jan. 1.
"Tyler (Gaffalione) was really impressed with her. I think she's done a lot on the track already. She got beat by a real nice filly (Quietside) last time. We'll take our chances. We'll go to the dance with her, for sure."
Stakes winner Whatintheliteral will make her sophomore debut for trainer Jena Antonucci and owners horseOlogy Racing and Craig Steinhart. She won the 2024 Astoria Stakes at 2, defeating The Queens M G, but stumbled badly at the beginning of her next race, the Schuylerville Stakes, and lost her rider. Whatintheliteral has not raced since being eased in the Nashua Stakes against males Nov. 2.
Shug McGaughey sends out newly minted maiden winner Cassiar for owner William S. Farish. The daughter of City of Light won her first and only start in a maiden special weight Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs. Bred by Calumet Farm, she was a $400,000 yearling purchase at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale in 2023.
Rounding out the field is Bell Racing's Anna's Promise, winner of an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream March 6. Luiz Saez has the mount.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 29, 2025, Race 9Entries: Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Paradise City (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 2 Early On (NY) Edwin Gonzalez 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 3 The Queens M G (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 4 Five G (NY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 George Weaver - 5 Whatintheliteral (FL) Jose E. Morelos 122 Jena M. Antonucci - 6 Cassiar (KY) Dylan Davis 122 Claude R. McGaughey III - 7 Anna's Promise (KY) Luis Saez 122 Carlos A. David -
