Harmonious crowned in Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

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]).