Dothraki Queen faces eight in Golden Rod

Nov 25, 2015 by Vance Hanson

Dothraki Queen arrived on the scene late to complete the trifecta in last month’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) behind division leaders Songbird and Rachel’s Valentina. On Saturday afternoon, the daughter of Pure Prize will be among the favorites in the $200,000 Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile event, the co-feature on Stars of Tomorrow II card, is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series. The winner of the Golden Rod will receive 10 qualifying points toward 2016 Oaks eligibility.

A seven-length debut winner on turf at Ellis Park, Dothraki Queen made a successful switch to dirt for Churchill’s Pocahontas (G2) on September 12, winning the 1 1/16-mile event by a half-length. She was next a rallying second in the Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland prior to her third in the Breeders’ Cup.

Dothraki Queen’s two main opponents figure to be Stageplay and Carina Mia. Stageplay defeated that rival by three lengths in their mutual debut at Keeneland on October 10, with Stageplay returning to win the $84,000 Rags to Riches on November 1 at Churchill by 1 1/2 lengths while overcoming a wide draw. Carina Mia also won her next start, a 6 1/2-furlong maiden at Keeneland, by 9 3/4 lengths in blistering time of 1:15.

Other potential contenders in the field of nine are Dream Dance, who placed in both the Pocahontas and Rags to Riches, and Susies Yankee Girl, who enters undefeated in two starts following a six-furlong allowance win on the first Stars of Tomorrow card.