Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
By Sarah Mace
In the topsy-turvy world of 2020, it is wonderful to see Thoroughbred racing deliver on one of the most joyful annual rites of late spring: inspiring debut wins by 2-year-olds. On Friday at Gulfstream Park, J Stables’ Queen Arella, a bay New York-bred filly by WinStar freshman sire Speightster, rallied following a rough start to win her 5-furlong dirt debut, a $65,000 maiden special weight, by four lengths. She was the first winner for her sire.
Trained by Roderick Rodriguez, who is based at Gulfstream Park West, Queen Arella came into her debut with a pair of published works under her belt. The more recent of the two was a four-furlong bullet move from the gate timed in :47 flat over good going.
Partnered with Miguel Vasquez and drawn in post six of nine, Queen Arella flew in under bettors’ radar at post time odds of 8-1.
Off-balance and pinballed right out of the gate, Queen Arella regrouped and took to the outside of the scrum and, once in the clear, immediately began to make up lost ground.
Advancing into fifth through the sharp 22.78 first quarter, the bay filly picked off rivals on the backstretch until, by midway around the far turn, only the vying trio of Stepping Forward (rail), Hara (between) and New York-bred Jill’s a Hot Mess (three-wide) remained four lengths ahead.
Getting even terms with the trio in upper stretch, Queen Arella cruised on by in the final furlong and her momentum carried her along to a comfortable four-length win. After four furlongs on 46.56, the filly stopped the clock at 59.54. Hara hung on for second and a closing Go Jo Jo Go finished third.
Bred by WinStar Farm, Queen Arella proved to be the ultimate bargain. The only time she was offered for sale at public auction, Eduardo Prado astutely picked her up for just $1,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale.
Queen Arella is the second foal and second winner out of Unbridled Sonya. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Unbridled’s Song, Unbridled Sonya won on turf in her second career start at two. Her first foal is Winning Impression by Paynter who has earned $68,730. In 2018 she sold to K.O.I.D. for $37,000 and relocated to Korea.
