Queen Maxima wheels back in Mizdirection Stakes Saturday at Santa Anita, 2 weeks after Oaks Day disappointment at Churchill Downs

QUEEN MAXIMA WHEELS BACK IN MIZDIRECTION STAKES SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA, 2 WEEKS AFTER OAKS DAY DISAPPOINTMENT AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

ARCADIA, CA (May 11, 2026)—Multiple graded stakes winner Queen Maxima, who on May 1 at Churchill Downs failed to defend her title in the Grade III Unbridled Sydney Stakes, returns to action Saturday at Santa Anita in the $100,000 Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and going about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Trained by Jeff Mullins, Queen Maxima never threatened and finished fourth in the Unbridled Sydney at 5 ½ furlongs on turf on the Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill Downs. Last year, Queen Maxima rolled to a 3 ½-length victory in the Unbridled Sydney. A 5-year-old mare by Bucchero, Queen Maxima on Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course sports a record of 5: 3-1-1 with all three victories coming in stakes races. In January, she scored over the course when winning the GIII Las Cienegas. Queen Maxima has an overall mark of 15: 8-2-1 with $662,060 in earnings for owners Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. She’ll have regular rider Juan Hernandez aboard.

Spirited Boss makes a return trip to Santa Anita from South Florida for trainer Jose D’Angelo five weeks after coming west and promptly winning the GIII Monrovia on the hillside course. Spirited Boss rallied from last under Mike Smith in the Monrovia to prevail by three-quarters of a length at 18-1. She’s worked twice at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida since that effort. A 4-year-old filly by Street Boss, Spirited Boss is 10: 5-1-2 with $301,750 in earnings for owner-breeder Tag Stables. Smith again the call on Spirited Boss.

Princesa Moche checked in fourth, 4 ¾ lengths back of Spirited Boss in the Monrovia at odds of 9-2. In January, Princesa Moche earned her first stakes win in the U.S. in the GIII Megahertz going one mile on turf at Santa Anita. Bred in Peru, Princesa Moche is a 6-year-old mare by the Oasis Dream stallion Muwaary. She is trained by Doug O’Neill for owner Rancho San Roberto Inc. and has an overall record of 41: 12-4-5 with $184,116 in earnings. She’ll be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo for the first time.

THE MIZDIRECTION WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 10 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT

1. Marian Cross—Hector Berrios—122
2. Candy Bar—Tyler Baze—120
3. Amorita—Antonio Fresu—120
4. Princesa Moche—Emisael Jaramillo—124
5. Rosie Jeeks—Armando Ayuso—124
6. Queen Maxima—Juan Hernandez—124
7. Antifona—Tiago Pereira—124
8. Spirited Boss—Mike Smith—124
9. Certitude—Joel Rosario—122

First post Saturday is 1 p.m. PT.