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Harmonious crowned in Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

Harmonious struck a winning note in the QEII (Keeneland/Coady Photography) Martin and Emily Wygod's homebred HARMONIOUS (Dynaformer) traveled from the West Coast exclusively to run in Saturday's $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. (G1) at Keeneland, and the trip proved worthwhile as the sophomore miss drew off in the stretch for the 4 1/4-length win. With Joel Rosario in the pilot's seat for the first time, the dark bay lass completed 1 1/8 miles on the firm turf in 1:49 as the 5-2 favorite. Dade Babe (Cimarron Secret) shot straight to the front when the gates opened and pulled off through splits of :23, :47 and 1:12 1/5. Rosario was in no hurry aboard Harmonious, settling this mount in second while near 3-1 second choice Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet) tracked in third. The field began to bunch a bit and gained on Dade Babe nearing the turn. Harmonious angled to the outside of her rival, while Evening Jewel ducked in toward the inside as they entered the stretch. Evening Jewel put in a good run but there was no catching Harmonious, who opened up to post the easy win. "She was galloping along, and I just let her relax, find her stride," Rosario said. "Turning for home, I had a lot of horse. When I asked her, she tried to get in a little bit. I hit her left handed and she tried to get out a little bit. But she was fine. She did the job really easy."

The winner was worth $7, $4.40 and $2.80 while keying the $35.40 exacta with Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune), who came with a furious late run from last to nip Evening Jewel by a half-length on the wire. Zagora gave back $5.20 and $3.40 as the near 4-1 third pick while Evening Jewel paid $2.60. The trifecta returned $123 and the 6-1-3-5 superfecta totaled $1,447.60 with Dade Babe holding fourth by a nose over Snow Top Mountain (Najran).

Last-out Garden City S. (G1) winner Check the Label (Stormin Fever) came next under the wire, with La Cloche (Ghostzapper) and Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul [Ire]) completed the order of finish.

Harmonious was the lighest-raced filly in the eight-sophomore field. She made her career debut on Hollywood Park's synthetic Cushion Track, finishing fifth, then was switched to turf by trainer John Shirreffs. The dark bay commenced a three-race win streak that culminated with a 1 1/4-length triumph in the American Oaks (G1) on July 3. She faced Evening Jewel in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) last out, just missing in second by a half-length after drifting out in the stretch, and improved her record to 6-4-1-0 with this score while doubling her earnings to $502,420.

The Kentucky-bred is the third registered foal, but first runner, from the unraced Jade Tree (Storm Cat), who has since produced an unnamed yearling filly by Unbridled's Song and a weanling filly by Candy Ride (Arg). Jade Tree is herself a three-quarter sister to multiple Grade 1-placed Jade Queen (Giant's Causeway) and a half-sister to stakes winner and Grade 2-placed Megantic (Theatrical [Ire]).

Harmonious' second dam, Grade 2 heroine Jade Flush (Jade Hunter), placed in six graded events, chief among them the Spinster S. (G1). She is a three-quarter sister to French stakes victress Tenga (Mr. Prospector), the dam of Grade 1 victor Startac (Theatrical [Ire]). Harmonious' third dam, the unraced Royal Strait Flush (Seattle Slew), is a full sister to the ill-fated champion juvenile filly Landaluce, the winner of all five career starts. Further back, this is the family of Italian champion *Prince Royal II (*Ribot), hero of the 1964 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and American champion turf horses Theatrical (Ire) (Nureyev) and Paradise Creek (Irish River [Fr]).

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