QE II Challenge Cup (Grade 1)- $750.00 Purse
KEE- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
October 10, 2026

The largest purse that is up for grabs this weekend will be at KEE, as the Grade 1 QE II Challenge Cup and its $750.00 purse takes center stage. This is a turf race for three year old fillies, sending them nine furlongs, and we will have a field of twelve taking part. The race first appeared on the schedule in 2005, and has been won by the likes of Attraction, Maggie Greene, and November Storm previously. Last year, Mami would prevail by about a length, for Alydar Stables. She would then go on to run second in the BC Fillies & Mares Turf, and remains active today. Now, it is time for a new race winner, so here is a look at those hoping they are the one.

1- Blanco Fromthe Bronx (Panionios Racing, ridden by R L Moore)- The Great State filly gets a leap of faith by her trainer after winning the $30.00 Molson Cup last month at FE. Coming on soft turf, the win was her second over five starts and potentially a valuable building block to bigger things in her career. We’ll see if that happens, however, as she has never seen a field of this quality. That doesn’t mean she cannot pull it off, but she would be a risky pick.

2- Noble Party (Nakamura Stables, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- If you’re looking for inspiration for Blanco Fromthe Bronx in making a successful step up, look no further than the filly starting right next her. Noble Party won three of her first four races, and that would lead to her being moved from an optional claimer into the Grade 3 Regret at SA, a move the trainer never would regret when she placed second. She hasn’t run in a graded race since that May performance and I admittedly would have liked to have seen a better work from her on September 30. But, as we all know, there can be other factors in play with that.

3- Unfinished Symphony (Luz International, ridden by T Gaffalione)- This time last year, and right here on this race track, is where she scored the biggest win of her career thus far, capturing the Grade 1 Alcibiades. The victory sent her to the BC Juvenile Fillies, where she finished in the middle of the field. After two starts as three year old, Luz International moved her to the turf for the first time, and she’s done everything but win in the four starts that have followed. Coming off of back to back seconds at SAR: the Grade 3 Lake George and the Grade 2 Lake Placid. Going a tad bit longer could be what puts her over the top.

4- The Valley Remnant (Winning Link Stables, ridden by V Espinoza)- For the first time, The Valley Remnant will be running on the turf, and the trainer isn’t messing around with the type of company she will be up against. In eight starts, she hasn’t done anything that is going to intimidate any of her rivals here, winning twice in eight starts with modest earnings. We first saw a public turf work from her at CD last month, which is in line with most of the field. This is still asking a lot, though.

5- John 3sixteen (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Last seen in August at SAR in the Grade 3 Lake George, where Unfinished Symphony got the headbob over her in a photo for place. That race represented a jump from allowance company, which is fine, but as of now, John3sixteen only has her maiden win to her name. Still lightly raced, so there is time for her to develop into a real good one, but nothing is really standing out to me like a banner behind football uprights on a field goal attempt would.

6- Cailleach (Jerry Garcia Racing, ridden by L Salles)- It’s been a massive three year old season for Cailleach, as the filly has earned over $1,200.00 on the year, which puts her second in this field in that category. A large portion of that came a month ago, when she won the $1,500.00 Music City Stakes at KD, but that’s not all she has done, as she would also win the Grade 3 Victory Ride at SAR in July. Those may be sprints, but don’t worry, she has plenty of expertise when running long as well, which is highlighted by running second in the $300.00 Bourbonette Oaks. No reason to be the slightest bit concerned that she can not also thrive in turf routes.

7- Lucy Heat (The Sidley Stud, ridden by J R Velazquez)- If you like a horse that knows how to win pretty much every time she is out on the track, than Lucy Heat is for you. She’s won five out of her seven starts, with two of them coming at the graded level. She took the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes at MTH in June as well as the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes last time. The latter was with a wire to wire effort and earned a 100 SRF. Figures to be one of the top contenders within this field.

8- Whirlwind Spirit (Acber Farms, ridden by F Pennington)- Had a consistent start to her career, which would lead to her running in some KYO preps up to this spring. She was okay in them, but did not really stand out, which led the trainer to try something new in May when Whirlwind Spirit was moved to the turf. He could have been easily discouraged by a weak run in the Grade 2 Edgewood, but would not be, and the filly ran well in two NY-bred races at SAR. However, after a dud in the Dueling Ground Oaks, she still needs to prove that she can handle graded competition. Here’s another chance to do exactly that.

9- Shakir (Royalty Stables, ridden by M Franco)- Hopes for Shakir to run well will stem from her last work, which was here last week. However, she has always been good in the morning, and has not been able to translate that to the track. In 2026, she has made three starts, initially looking good but struggling in her last two, both in overnights. In fact, her last start saw her lose by seven lengths in August in an ELP allowance. One day, she will race to those works, and if that happens Saturday, Royalty Stables will be very happy. I’ll be looking elsewhere.

10- Valley Center (Nakamura Stables, ridden by R Santana Jr)- This filly has won over $1,500.00 for her career, thanks to five wins over 13 starts. After trying some KYO preps, Valley Center was moved to the turf to try the Grade 2 Edgewood. No, that was at a copy/paste from Whirlwind Spirit, and unlike that one, Valley Center did well in the Edgewood, placing fourth. She’d follow that up by winning that Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at SA. That’s not where she gained most of her money, though. No, that came last time out with a come from behind win in the Grade 3, $2,000.00 Dueling Grounds Oaks at KD. Figures to be one of the top choices due to that.

11- Shot Of Summer (Diablo Diablo, ridden by R Bejarano)- Ran against Valley Center last month in the Dueling Grounds Oaks, and was flying in the stretch, making up a total of eight lengths on the leader. Sounds good? Well, it only made her margin defeat five lengths, and she still finished ninth. Looking at this filly, one word comes to mind immediately, and that is inconsistent. In similar races at the same track, she was a non-favor in the BEL Oaks, but placed second in the SAR Oaks. She doesn’t seem to have two subpar starts in a row, so that could be encouraging here.

12- Avicea (Mb Stables, ridden by P Lopez)- Picked up by the trainer nine months ago in the auction for just $7.41, and after a slow start and being moved to the grass, she has begun to excel. That began modestly though, in races at TUP and LAD, places you know that Mb is not running his stars in their ninth and tenth career start. Something clicked over the summer, and after Avicea won an allowance by three at MTH in wire to wire fashion, she was sent to the Grade 2 Lake Placid at SAR, where she again led from start to finish to win. Another example here of a great training job by Mb, and if she’s continuing to grow, this division should be put on notice.

Prediction: 10-7-6-12

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES