In a study of perseverance, Jarvis Swereda, the owner of Starfield Auto Body and Starfield Stable finally got his big horse.  Queen Tina, also bred by Swereda, dominated the field to capture the $50,000 Distaff Stakes on Friday night.

After 30 years of breeding and racing Manitoba-bred thoroughbreds, Jarvis Swereda has his first stakes winner in Queen Tina.  Winner of the R. C. Anderson Stakes in July against other 3-year-old fillies, Queen Tina cemented her name as a possible Manitoba-bred Horse of the Year winner after scoring in the Distaff against the more seasoned Manitoba-bred fillies and mares. 

Grabbing the lead going down the stretch for the first time, Queen Tina, trained by Harry Kube, became the reluctant pace setter down the backstretch.  “We thought there was going to be more speed in the race,” said rider David Lopez, “but we went out like we did in the last race and it worked out good.  She’s a nice horse!”

After disposing of early challenger Cinnamon Force, the 3-year-old daughter of Boanerges went into the final turn all alone.  Coming into the homestretch “the Queen” rebuffed a challenge from Easter’s Lily and opened up on the field to win by three lengths.

Easter’s Lily was forced four wide in the first turn then sat in behind early leaders Queen Tina and Cinnamon Force.  Going into the final turn, Easter’s Lily, trained by Wayne Elias, moved to challenge the leader, but could only manage to get within a length of the winner in the turn and had to settle for second. 

Dream Extreme, trained by Marvin Buffalo, sat in the back of the pack early and was able to rally for third.

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