Well-matched field assembled for Queen Elizabeth 2 Challenge
Oct 8, 2014 21:45:08 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Oct 8, 2014 21:45:08 GMT -5
Well-matched field assembled for Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup
Brisnet
A contentious field of nine has been entered to go nine furlongs over Keeneland's turf in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Nearly all the fillies have a shot at victory, and many have faced off in recent races as well.
Minorette is one of those who has beaten, and been defeated, by others in the race. The Chad Brown pupil captured the Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park on July 5 over Sea Queen, only to finish a close fourth in the Lake Placid behind Crown Queen. Joel Rosario was aboard for the Belmont score and takes back the mount on the Smart Strike miss.
Both Sea Queen and Crown Queen line back up here. The former defeated Minorette by a half-length in the Wonder Again before falling to her in the Belmont Oaks. Sea Queen has since gone on to be fourth in the Del Mar Oaks and third to the re-opposing Ball Dancing in the Sands Points. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call.
Crown Queen hasn't been seen in competition since her Lake Placid victory at Saratoga. The Bill Mott pupil brings a three-race win streak into the QEII with John Velazquez staying aboard.
Ball Dancing was making her U.S. debut, and only her sixth career start, in the Sands Point. Also trained by Brown, the Exchange Rate filly will have the services of Joe Bravo on Saturday.
Speed Seeker is even more lightly raced than Ball Dancing, breaking her maiden in June at Woodbine, running fifth in Saratoga's Lake George behind Daring Dancer and taking the Ontario Colleen on August 23 back at Woodbine for Joan Scott.
"She had problems with her shins," Scott explained the late start. "I got her late last fall and we fought the shins. We sent her home, got her pin-fired and I got her back in April."
James Graham will have the mount Saturday on Speed Seeker, who worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Keeneland's main track Friday as her final tuneup for the QEII.
"She is going the right way coming into this," Scott added.
Daring Dancer already owns a graded win on Keeneland's turf thanks to the Appalachian during the spring meet. She followed her Lake George triumph with a sixth in the Sands Point. Alan Garcia was in the irons for both graded scores and will get a leg up on the Empire Maker filly.
Sistas Stroll is unbeaten on turf after making her career debut over Tampa Bay Downs' main track. She added the Pucker Up to her resume last out at Arlington and brings Drayden Van Dyke along for the ride. Aurelia's Belle was fifth in the Pucker Up one race after a synthetic track win in the Arlington Oaks. Channing Hill was aboard for both those contests and retains the mount Saturday.
Personal Diary, queen of the Del Mar Oaks last out on August 16, completes the QEII field under Corey Nakatani.
Brisnet
A contentious field of nine has been entered to go nine furlongs over Keeneland's turf in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Nearly all the fillies have a shot at victory, and many have faced off in recent races as well.
Minorette is one of those who has beaten, and been defeated, by others in the race. The Chad Brown pupil captured the Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park on July 5 over Sea Queen, only to finish a close fourth in the Lake Placid behind Crown Queen. Joel Rosario was aboard for the Belmont score and takes back the mount on the Smart Strike miss.
Both Sea Queen and Crown Queen line back up here. The former defeated Minorette by a half-length in the Wonder Again before falling to her in the Belmont Oaks. Sea Queen has since gone on to be fourth in the Del Mar Oaks and third to the re-opposing Ball Dancing in the Sands Points. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call.
Crown Queen hasn't been seen in competition since her Lake Placid victory at Saratoga. The Bill Mott pupil brings a three-race win streak into the QEII with John Velazquez staying aboard.
Ball Dancing was making her U.S. debut, and only her sixth career start, in the Sands Point. Also trained by Brown, the Exchange Rate filly will have the services of Joe Bravo on Saturday.
Speed Seeker is even more lightly raced than Ball Dancing, breaking her maiden in June at Woodbine, running fifth in Saratoga's Lake George behind Daring Dancer and taking the Ontario Colleen on August 23 back at Woodbine for Joan Scott.
"She had problems with her shins," Scott explained the late start. "I got her late last fall and we fought the shins. We sent her home, got her pin-fired and I got her back in April."
James Graham will have the mount Saturday on Speed Seeker, who worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Keeneland's main track Friday as her final tuneup for the QEII.
"She is going the right way coming into this," Scott added.
Daring Dancer already owns a graded win on Keeneland's turf thanks to the Appalachian during the spring meet. She followed her Lake George triumph with a sixth in the Sands Point. Alan Garcia was in the irons for both graded scores and will get a leg up on the Empire Maker filly.
Sistas Stroll is unbeaten on turf after making her career debut over Tampa Bay Downs' main track. She added the Pucker Up to her resume last out at Arlington and brings Drayden Van Dyke along for the ride. Aurelia's Belle was fifth in the Pucker Up one race after a synthetic track win in the Arlington Oaks. Channing Hill was aboard for both those contests and retains the mount Saturday.
Personal Diary, queen of the Del Mar Oaks last out on August 16, completes the QEII field under Corey Nakatani.