Oaks trail hopeful Queen of Thorns exceeds Eurton's expectations

Queen of Thorns did not disappoint in her debut, winning by a facile eight lengths as the 9-10 favorite at six furlongs Jan. 1.

Next up: Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile.

“She exceeded my expectations by far,” said Peter Eurton, who trains the $300,000 daughter of Violence for a partnership.

“She’s one of those fillies that doesn’t necessarily show herself off. She’s very steady and does what she does, but her performance was way above what I expected, and I obviously was very pleased.

“We’ll see how the race sets up, but it’s exciting to be there.

“There are two nice (Bob) Baffert fillies in the race, Adare Manor who broke her maiden by 12 lengths with a 92 Beyer, and Eda, who won the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Al.”

The Las Virgenes awards the winner 10 qualifying points to the Kentucky Oaks on May 6.

Meanwhile, Doug O’Neill, speaking on phone from Dubai where Hot Rod Charlie won Friday’s Al Maktoum Stakes (G2) by 5½ lengths under William Buick filling in for Flavien Prat, had two fillies nominated to the Las Virgenes but neither will run.

“Tonito’s came down with a chip in her knee, so she’s out for 60 days or so,” O’Neill said of the daughter of Blame, third by less than a length at 19-1 in the Starlet on Dec. 4.

“Awake At Midnyte (second in the Santa Ynez (G2) on Jan. 8) will probably run at the Fair Grounds (in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) on Feb. 19).”