The Grade 1, Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup is Saturday at Keeneland.
The $800,000 dollar, mile & 1/8th turf race is restricted to 3-year-old fillies and has drawn a quality group of nine runners.
Here is a brief look at the field for Saturday’s contest:
1. LUSH LIPS [ML 5-1] Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione. Trainer: Brendan Walsh. Rallied for 2nd in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. Has ran 1st or 2nd in her last six starts and should be a major factor from her position on the rail.
2. LAURELIN [ML 5-2] Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche. Trainer: Graham Motion. Not much downside here. She’s a perfect 5-for-5 and, though this will be her first try in a Grade 1 Stakes, she beat a decent field in the Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes– which, seemingly, makes her the one to beat here.
3. SIMMERING [ML 10-1] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Ollie Sangster. European invader arrives off a 3rd in a Group 3 stakes in France. Was 3rd in the One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket in May then tossed in two clunkers in Group 1 company. Would require her best effort in order to be a win threat.
4. DAISY FLYER [ML 20-1] Jockey: Florent Geroux. Trainer: Rusty Arnold. Last out had some trouble in the stretch of the 1 5/16-mile Grade 3, Dueling Ground Oaks at Kentucky Downs and finished 11th. This distance is better suited for her. She did turn in two solid efforts prior to the Kentucky Downs flop.
5. OPULENT RESTRAINT [ML 4-1] Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: Chad Brown. She ran 3rd as the favorite in the Saratoga Oaks when she couldn’t repel the hard-charging LAURELIN. Was also 3rd in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes. Should be one of the main threats here.
6. CANDY QUEST [ML 12-1] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Mark Casse. Rallied from 11th to reach the front in the Dueling Grounds Oaks but could not fend off a late sprint by FIONN. The shorter distance here should be more to her liking.
7. DESTINO D’ORO [ML 8-1] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Brad Cox. Didn’t fire and finished 6th as the odds-on favorite in the Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational. Gets a positive rider switch to Irad, which might lead to a bounce-back effort.
8. WILL THEN [ML 20-1] Jockey: Frankie Dettori. Trainer: Jonathan Thomas. Is winless in three 2025 starts in Graded Stakes and this is as tough as any group she’s previously faced. Don’t foresee a flying dismount from Frankie in the Winner’s Circle here.
9. FIONN [ML 3-1] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Brad Cox. Is in a great form, rallied from 10th to win the Dueling Grounds Oaks and prior to that she won the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks over the highly regarded NITROGEN at this distance.
The QE II Challenge Cup is slated as race nine on a card of ten with a scheduled Post Time of 5:15.
Best of luck however you play it.
