Inglorious Eyes First Win Since Queen's Plate

Donver Stable’s 5-year-old Canadian-bred mare Inglorious lends a little something unusual to Saturday’s edition of the $150,000 Suwannee River Stakes (G3) since it's the first time and probably last that a winner of Canada’s historic Queen’s Plate runs in the 1 1/8 miles turf test for fillies and mares.

Trainer Josie Carroll developed the Canadian-bred daughter of Hennessy to win the Woodbine Oaks in early June of 2011 and then beat the colts in the 1 ¼ miles Queen’s Plate later that month with a 12th to first rally to score by 2 ¾ lengths. However, Inglorious will be bidding for her first victory in six starts since the Plate, including four last year.

“She’s run some very good races but hasn’t won,” said trainer Josie Carroll from Fair Grounds where she maintains her winter headquarters with a smaller division at Palm Meadows. “She was running well in good races against good horse like Marketing Mix last year, but she came out of that last race on turf at Woodbine in July pretty body sore, so we gave her plenty of time off.”

That was the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) on July 8 when she finished third to Marketing Mix, beaten 2 ¼ lengths in a good effort. In one start since then she shipped to California to finish third in the Bayakoa Stakes (G2) run on ‘Cushion’ track at Hollywood Park on Dec. 8.

“She’s likes the Poly and turf just as well,” said Carroll who was due to fly in from New Orleans on Friday. “We don’t think she cares for dirt that much. She’s trained so well on turf at Palm Meadows we thought this race was the logical spot to get started. There will be lots of options for her this year.”

Inglorious goes into the Suwannee River with the biggest bankroll in the field at more than $1.4 million from a 13-5-2-3 record.