Prairie Queen

The recent form tells the real tale. Prairie Queen has finished second, fifth, third, third, third, and second in its last six races. That string of runs suggests a horse that is competitive most days out — placing in five of six — but hitting a glass ceiling when it comes to winning. Sean Houlihan, the jockey who has ridden the horse most often, has partnered Prairie Queen eleven times without a victory, which speaks less to the jockey's ability and more to the horse's current level. Trainer Susan Gardner, based at Longdown in Devon, has managed to get seven winners into the ring this season, so the yard knows how to train a winner; Prairie Queen simply has not been the one.

At 6 years old and still active, Prairie Queen is a veteran of the lower divisions. Whether the horse ever breaks through and wins remains to be seen, but there is something to admire in showing up race after race, finishing in the frame regularly, and giving its the yard a fair day's work. Not every horse reaches the top; some are simply honest performers at their level. Prairie Queen appears to be exactly that.