All Hail the Queen of Downhill Green: Queen Maxima Struts Her Stuff in Las Cienegas

[Wandering Eyes]

They don't make them all like Queen Maxima (Bucchero), but the newly minted 5-year-old mare has been the queen of the downhill green at Santa Anita Park for the last two seasons, and she kicked off 2026 in similar style via the GIII Las Cienegas Stakes.

The 2-5 favorite was in no hurry after the jump, and stalked the early pace contentedly until they swung into the bend coming off the hill after a :44.15 half. The looming danger to the pace, she took command entering the lane and comfortably kept them at bay to score in a final time of 1:11.69. Princesa Moche (Per) Muwaary {GB}) ran on for second and Spicybug (Speightstown) was third.

The daughter of Bucchero is now eight for 13 in her career, and has won five of her last six starts at The Great RIP, counting this victory.

 

#1 QUEEN MAXIMA ($2.80) and @JJHernandezS19 get the win in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3) at @santaanitapark. The daughter of Bucchero is trained by @Jmullinsracing. pic.twitter.com/Tu6AD79Exc

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 11, 2026

Sunday, Santa Anita Park
LAS CIENEGAS S.-GIII, $102,000, Santa Anita, 1-11, 4yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2fT, 1:11.69, fm.
1–QUEEN MAXIMA, 124, m, 5, by Bucchero
                1st Dam: Corfu Lady, by Corfu
                2nd Dam: St Ballado's Lady, by Pleasantly Perfect
                3rd Dam: St Ballado's Image, by Saint Ballado
($40,000 2yo '23 OBSOPN). O-Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC; B-Saul Rosas (FL); T-Jeff Mullins; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 13-8-2-0, $630,460. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Princesa Moche (Per), 122, m, 6, Muwaary (GB)–Queen Jezebel, by Motivator (GB). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Rancho San Roberto, Inc.; B-Haras Los Azahares (PER); T-Chief Stipe F. O'Neill. $20,000.
3–Spicybug, 120, m, 6, Speightstown–Midnight Miley, by Midnight Lute. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($250,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Mike G. Rutherford; B-Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $12,000.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 16.50, 11.30.
Also Ran: Egyptian Mau (Saf), Nay V Belle, Rosie Jeeks, Omnipontet (Brz), Miss Lizzy, Antifona (Fr).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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