Dothraki Queen Skims Rail To Win Pocahontas
Dothraki Queen took the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes on Saturday thanks to a move along the rail by jockey Corey Lanerie. The Pocahontas Stakes is the first race on the Road to the 2016 Kentucky Oaks.
The race was not without a little entertainment as the horse that finished second under the line, Bold Quality, was disqualified for bumping in the stretch and placed third.
Decked Out grabbed the lead early on from the rail and right behind her was the Emerald Downs invader Princess Kennedy. Bold Quality and Put Da Blame On Me were third and fourth while Dream Dance sat fifth. Just Wicked, the 1-2 favorite, sat in sixth early on while Dothraki Queen and Vivid Storm were the trailing duo.
The field started to bunch up as they entered the far turn with Just Wicked and Put Da Blame On Me putting in bids on the outside. Dothraki Queen was held up entering the stretch behind the leaders, but found room as they straightened out and went right up the rail to take a clear lead.
Dothraki Queen had to fend off Bold Quality in the final furlong and did just that by a half-length. Dream Dance finished third under the wire while Just Wicked flattened out to finish fourth. The remaining order of finish was Decked Out, Princess Kennedy, Put Da Blame On Me, and Vivid Storm. The running chart can be found here via Equibase.
After the race, Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard Dream Dance claimed a foul against Bold Quality. The judges determined that as Bold Quality came out in the stretch, she bumped and interfered with Dream Dance. The two horses would swap positions after the disqualification with Dream Dance finishing second and Bold Quality third.
Dothraki Queen went off at odds of 7.40 to 1 and paid $16.80 to win, $6.80 to place, and $8.60 to show. She ran the one mile and one sixteenth in 1:45.80. She is by Pure Prize out of the Saint Ballado mare Sharaiji Blossom. She was ridden by Corey Lanerie and is trained by Ken McPeek.
Since this was the first race in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, the top four finishers are now the top four horses on the points leaderboard. Dothraki Queen has 10 points, Dream Dance has 4 points, Bold Quality has 2 points, and Just Wicked has one point.
The Pocahontas was also a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
The Road to the Kentucky Oaks continues on Saturday, September 26 from Santa Anita Park with the Grade 1 Chandelier.