Trainer Wesley Ward decided to reroute Athens Queen from Ascot near London to Belmont Park near New York City, and the move paid off with a hard-fought neck victory in the Astoria Stakes for breeder Reiley McDonald.
“We were trying to get her to (Royal) Ascot, and she’s nice on turf but just not up to what it takes to win over there,” Ward said of Athens Queen. “Fortunately, Reiley is an owner who lets me call the shots, so I convinced him to trade in his top hat and he got a stakes win out of it.”
Athens Queen was one of two fillies Ward saddled in the Astoria, and the trainer was honest even after the race about liking Wonder Stone better from the rail.
“We liked our other one quite a bit, and I wasn’t surprised to see her take so much more money (3-1 versus 11-1),” Ward said. “But Wonder Stone’s style set up for (Athens Queen) to come rolling late.”
Both Athens Queen and Wonder Stone had won their career debuts at Keeneland. Albin Jiminez was aboard for the victory, piloting Athens Queen through 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.37 over the fast main track.
Athens Queen beat Lady Apple by a neck in the latter’s first start for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Lady Apple debuted for Mark Hubley at Keeneland, finishing second, before Phoenix Thoroughbreds bought into the Curlin filly and transferred her to Asmussen.
“We’re very fortunate to have a horse like this in the barn,” Asmussen said. “She’s very classy and Mark did a great job with her. She’ll stay (in New York) and we’ll look at Saratoga for her next start.”
That could mean a rematch with Athens Queen, who Ward said would target a Saratoga stakes as well.
The favorites did not fare well with even-money choice Tijori never making the lead before fading to fourth. Eyeinthesky, sent off at 3-1, broke in at the start before flattening out following a wide move.
