April 26 was a great day.  Within the span of two consecutive races at Calder, two Curlin fillies crossed the wire first.  I had known going in that morning that Curlin’s Gold would be racing in an allowance there that day, in her first start against winners.  Before I knew that race result, though, I saw an exciting surprise in a Blood-Horse maiden race alert in my email inbox: Curly Queen, a three-year-old Curlin filly who had flown under my radar up to that point, had broken her maiden in the race just before!

I was working a conference that afternoon, but I couldn’t wait. I had to take a moment to add her to my virtual stable right then, from my phone, before returning to my tasks.  I took a brief look at her racing history, and saw that this had been her third race.  I found it very exciting that she had debuted in maiden claiming company, taken the step up to special weight, and broken her maiden two starts later.  I didn’t know what was next for her, but her win had made me very excited.

She started three more times after that, but her maiden win ended up being her only one.  In a recent this week in Curlin babies entry, I mentioned that Curly Queen had pulled up in her July 27 race at Gulfstream, and been vanned off, but I did not know what happened to her.  This morning, the worst fears were confirmed: she had suffered a sesamoid injury in her July 27 race, and had to be euthanized after the race.

How am I going to remember her?  I’m going to remember the glee of finding out in one fell swoop not only that Curly Queen existed, but that this three year old filly out of the Seattle Slew mare Queen Mama had just crossed the wire first.  I am going to forever associate her with a banner day, as hers was the first of two straight victories by Curlin babies at Calder that day.  I’m going to remember her coming through the turn, confronting Cookie Xchanger, who had been so loose on the lead entering that far turn.  I’m going to remember her fending off the late run of Teeth of the Tiger to win by a length.  I’m going to remember her as a winner.

Goodbye, Curly Queen.  You are missed, and you are loved.