Queen Laila won her first start of 2018 in Saturday's ninth race, an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option for fillies and mares

Her first-ever appearance in a claimer on Saturday caught the attention of several trainers. Queen Laila was claimed in a five-way shake by David Jacobson. Sent off as the favorite, Queen Laila ($4) won the six-furlong race by 5 1-2 lengths over 6-1 Fair Regis in 1:10.29.

A 4-year-old by The Factor, Queen Laila was trained by Simon Callaghan last year and for Saturday's race. A $250,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland in 2015, Queen Laila has won 3 of 6 starts. Sh was fourth in two stakes last year - the Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita and the Beverly Lewis Stakes at Los Alamitos.