Luster faces 10 in Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

Somewhat forgotten in the wake of Luster’s exceptional success over Woodbine’s Tapeta track this summer is that the three-year-old standout began her career with two wins on grass, looking like a budding star over that surface. On Saturday, Canada’s leading sophomore returns to the Keeneland turf as the one to beat in the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), the signature event on a relatively light weekend of stakes action across the country.

Luster brings a 5-for-6 record into the nine-furlong test, including a demolition of Canadian-bred rivals in both the Woodbine Oaks and King’s Plate. But she looms as a serious threat on her return to grass, at least based on her last appearance in Lexington, a five-length allowance score over subsequent Lake George (G3) winner Amber Glen.

It might be harder to separate several of the others based on collateral form. Faithful Departed won the Regret (G3) in May, defeating Storm’s Wake and Tam Tam, but then finished second in the Belmont Oaks (G1) to Kensington Lane and the Saratoga Oaks (G2). Kensington Lane later ventured west and weakened to third in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) behind Tam Tam and Lookin At Diamond.

Trainer Chad Brown owns a record five wins in the Challenge Cup, though his only entry, Deep Learning, will offer a bit of a price after merely placing in the Lake George and Lake Placid (G2) in two starts this year. Storm’s Wake narrowly bested Soloist in the Old Dominion Oaks at Colonial Downs last month but did upset the Appalachian (G2) at Keeneland back in April.

Ambitiously placed against older horses in the Beverly D. (G2) in early August, Haute Diva still appears a bit overmatched in this spot. Meanwhile, trainer Francois-Henri Graffard, who saddled Daryz to a historic second Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) win last Sunday, sends Braida from France after a minor stakes win at Longchamp in early September. Mickael Barzalona, Daryz's Arc pilot, will ride her.