LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ova Charged, the queen of Louisiana, extended her superiority to a new dominion on Friday, battling on the lead for a neck victory in the Grade 3, $400,000 Unbridled Sidney Stakes for female turf sprinters at Churchill Downs. Louisiana-bred Ova Charged ($3.48) has now won 13 of 16 career starts, including 10 stakes on both dirt and turf. This marked her first graded stakes win, and first stakes win of any sort outside of Louisiana. The 6-year-old mare drew national notice coming in to the Unbridled Sidney that made her the favorite, as she ran the year's highest Beyer Speed Figure through May 2, a 113, in the Page Cortez Stakes against statebreds on March 24. She has now won five straight races. "I respect that this is the sport of kings," said owner Evelyn Benoit, who runs homebred Ova Charged in the name of her Brittlyn Stable. "But in Louisiana, we have a queen." Ova Charged is by Benoit's homebred standout Star Guitar, who won 22 stakes in his home state of Louisiana while earning more than $1.7 million. Standing at Clear Creek Stud in Louisiana for a modest fee, he is Benoit's pride and joy. He is now the sire of three graded stakes winners, with Ova Charged joining fellow Brittlyn homebred Minit to Stardom, and this year's U.A.E. Oaks winner Manama Gold, bred and owned by the operation. "I'd like to write it in the sky right now: 'Star Guitar,' " said Benoit, glowing with emotion after kissing her mare multiple times in the winner's circle. The Unbridled Sidney was the first race of the day contested over the Churchill turf, which took plenty of rain overnight and in the morning. The lone undercard race scheduled for the turf was moved to dirt, with Friday's three graded stakes remaining on the surface. Officially, the course was rated yielding at post time for the Unbridled Sidney, but trainer Shane Wilson - who took over Ova Charged's training last year from Jose Camejo, and has now saddled her to five wins in as many starts - said he had no concerns. Ova Charged and Florent Geroux broke from post 2 in the field of eight starters and within a few jumps, came up on the inside to narrowly lead Stone Silent, who broke from post 3, through an opening quarter in 21.91 seconds. With her head high and a loop in the reins, Ova Charged was obviously not extended to the utmost. Turning for home, Ova Charged still held a head lead over Stone Silent, but was coming under pressure, with that one refusing to wilt until the very final stages. Elm Drive, who had been stalking in third, was wide and looking for more. Meanwhile, Secret Money, a Grade 3 winner last year at Kentucky Downs, emerged from fourth to take dead aim on the top two. With Stone Silent giving way in the final yards, Ova Charged dug in to prevail by neck at the wire, with Secret Money holding second by another neck over Run for the Hills, who was rallying down the center of the course from last. The margin could have been larger, according to Geroux. "When Flo came back, I asked him, 'It got kind of tight there, didn’t it?'" Wilson recounted. "And he said, 'Naw, I had a lot. She just did enough to stay in front.'" The top three were followed, in order, by Medalla Match, Elm Drive, Tony Ann - the second choice making her first start since finishing eighth in last fall's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint - Stone Silent, and Miss Speedy. Ag Bullet - who runs in tomorrow's Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile - and Charriere were scratched. Ova Charged stopped the clock in 1:03.71 for the 5 1/2 furlongs. Ova Charged earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.