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Well-matched field assembled for Queen Elizabeth II
Challenge Cup
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| Minorette is seeking a return to the winner's circle
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
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.
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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.
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| Speed Seeker will be making just her fourth career start in the QEII
(WEG/Michael Burns Photography) |
"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.
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Personal Diary, queen of the Del Mar Oaks last out on August 16, completes
the QEII field under Corey Nakatani.
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