Hear the Queen Triumphs in Pago Hop

NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 27, 2025) — Miacomet Farm and Michael Pietrangelo’s Hear the Queen triumphed over seven 3-year-old fillies in Saturday’s $100,000 Pago Hop Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Trained by Brad Cox, Her the Queen received a perfect trip from jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr. to stop the clock in 1:43.91 going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

“I was in a perfect spot saving ground,” Pedroza said. “I knew I could follow the two leaders from there and wait for my time to strike. When (Caviar Breakfast) vacated her position out of the turn, I took the spot out and my filly responded really well at the end.”

After bumping Cheetah Lady leaving the gate, Hear the Queen soon found the pocket, nestled behind Ninth Island, who took the lead and slowed the pace with opening fractions of :23.76 and :49.14, while Caviar Breakfast stalked to her outside. Holding that order until late in the far turn, Hear the Queen tipped out when Caviar Breakfast disengaged from the leader and made her move on Ninth Island, getting first run on the closers. Hear the Queen held sway by one length, while Cheetah Lady came barreling down the center of the track to finish second. Sea to Sky ran third.

Hear the Queen paid $7.40, $4.80 and $3.60.

The Audible filly earned her first stakes title in her first attempt and now has a career record of 9-4-1-1, with a $225,831 bankroll.

-30-

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 154th Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 113th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 20, 2025 through March 22, 2026. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.