How to bet the 2024 Queen Stakes

A big and competitive field of 13 fillies and mares are entered for the $125,000 Queen S. at Turfway Park on Saturday. This race could offer a sizable return and I will take a swing at the superfecta. 

Queen Wagers

• 20-cent superfecta 12 with 4,6,7,8 with 4,6,7,8 with all ($21.60)
• 20-cent superfecta 12 with 4,6,7,8 with all with 4,6,7,8 ($21.60)
• 20-cent superfecta 6,8 with 12 with 4,6,7,8 with all ($10.80)

The six-furlong dash is loaded with early speed, with Wishing Well S. romper #6 B G Warrior and Rancho Bernardo S. (G3) third #8 Princess Adaleigh as the two quickest contenders in the field. While I have some fear that the duo could possibly duel each other into submission, I still think that one or both of the talented speedsters will be there late and must be included in my plays. 

Jonathan Thomas’s #12 Honey Pants is my key horse in the race as I expect her to receive a very good trip in the heat. A winner of the grassy Las Cienegas S. (G3) in her 2024 debut at Santa Anita, the six-year-old has raced primarily on the lawn in her career but did finish runner-up in her lone prior All-Weather outing to date. The Cairo Prince mare has enough tactical presence to not be left with too much to do turning for home, and she will be a menacing figure late beneath Luan Machado. 

I don’t necessarily like the winning chances of either #4 Linguistic or #7 Victorious, but each of the fillies has a lot of appeal to me for the vertical exotics, nonetheless. The former had a good local prep for the race, and she has the right running style to grab a share from off the pace late, as well. The price will be generous, too. And the latter is 2-for-2 locally for Mike McCarthy with further room for growth with just a trio of lifetime races to her credit. The $800,000 Into Mischief lass was quite game in her local tally most recently and will be well placed at the head of the stretch under Axel Concepcion.