QE II Challenge Cup (Grade 1)- $500.000 Purse
KEE- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
October 10, 2020

We had the right trainer for the QE II Challenge Cup, and in the end this would be a great race for Maxmillion Farm. He would have to settle for third with My Girl Makita, but I am sure he does not mind that after Dawning Ice Age picked up the impressive win with a change of recent tactics. We have seen her be a closer recently, but here she would run on the lead and earn the win. We felt that she was ready to run a big race, but did not make her one of our picks. At odds of 24/1, she would make those who did support her very happy. Trainer Maxmillion Farm has a reputation for getting big wins on the grass, but this was not a race that he had won before. Now, that can change as his name is added to the leaderboard. Jockey R Mejias accomplishes the same, so congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:45.95, a middle of the road such time. Here’s a look at it!

1st- 8- Dawning Ice Age (Maxmillion Farm) (24/1)- Our eventual winner gets off to a quick start,and if not for the aggressive nature of Raw Sugar, she probably would have the lead here. Instead, she runs second, stalking her, while being about two lengths ahead of a group of four horses running right behind her. Did not apply any pressure on Raw Sugar until the top of the turn, when she pulled up to her outside, and prepared to make the pass. Completed that pass within the turn, and at the top of the stretch, she had a length lead while still being in good stride. There was plenty left for the stretch, leading by a length with a furlong to go and then hanging on when Anna D and My Girl Makita took one last shot.

2nd- 4- Anna D (Smokey Stover) (3/1)- Got off to a good start, but would not chase either of the top two. Instead, she would position herself behind Dawning Ice Age while trying to not let her get away. Began to look as though she would be the better horse of the four wide group that was behind the ultimate winner, and approaching the turn, all she needed to do was to follow her through. That would work for the turn, but now in the top of the stretch, she would need to set herself up to make a pass for the win, and would look to do this in the third lane. Ran well, and it ends up being another second that Smokey needs to settle for, at least in what I was covering.

3rd- 5- My Girl Makita (Maxmillion Farm) (7/2)- Our pick to win was not as ambitious as her stablemate, and would run in the middle of the field early on, sitting just behind a four wide group in front of her. Had some room to get through that group as they approached the turn since there began to become some separation within them. Still in the middle of the field, but was certainly lurking as a potential threat at that point. Maneuvered her way through traffic eventually, but still had to make up two and a half lengths in the stretch. Did all she could and ends up third. Could have been better with a cleaner trip.

4th- 11- Sheza Kat (John Henry) (9/1)- Not interested in running in the front at all to begin the race, and would position herself in the back early, running alongside Alexandrite. Began to move forward entering the top of the stretch, but still had to get by quite a few more while running in a pretty tight crowd. She does this quite well, and was the fastest horse in the stretch all things considered. However, the wire would come up too soon for her, but at least she gets something as far as the purse is concerned.

5th- 6- Chances Taken (Mb Stables) (7/2)- Not as quick as her stablemate was to start the race, but she does start well herself, and third over in a four wide group sitting about three lengths from the lead. Maintained her outer line while in the turn and entering the stretch, looking as though she would be in the mix, but needing a little more to get the leader. Would not be able to do that, and must settle for being the quickest horse that doesn’t get a check.

6th- 1- Joan Of Arc (Calia Stable) (5/1)- This filly got off to a steady start, and would keep her spot on the rail as a part of the four wide group of horses that were running right behind Dawning Ice Age. Did well there for a while, but needed to come off the rail in order to pass Raw Sugar. On the exit of the turn, she did this well, and it appeared as though she would be a strong challenger for the win for the stretch run. Was not bad in the stretch but thought she could have been a little better late.

7th- 10- Raw Sugar (Mb Stables) (18/1)- Bursts out of the starting gate and looks like she might open up a big lead. Eventually settles in, and leads the field around the opening turn with a cushion of a length and a half. Led the field down the backstretch, but approaching the turn, Dawning Ice Age was within a length and others were closing in as well. Began to lose steam entering the stretch.

8th- 2- Sherry (D J C Racing Stables) (999+/1)– The overwhelming longshot ran near the back early, not giving the couple people who picked her a chance to get excited at any point. Although, she did look like she wanted to make a bid to the outside of Joan Of Arc. Sherry just didn’t have the legs underneath her to make it work. Well, those couple people still look better then the many more who picked the 9.

9th- 9- Mrs Nussbaums Credit (Arindel) (7/1)- Seemed like one of the better options for this race, but it was not to be. She was near the back right from the start. Exiting the turn, she made an outside move, and still could have been a contender if she could make this lane work. It would not, though she did seem poised to finish better then this.

10th- 3- Alexandrite (Threshold) (79/1)- While more people bet on her then did Sherry, this longshot would also not be near the front at any point, running at the back right from the starting gate. Never able to get her trainer excited.

11th- 7- Corn G (Chili King Stables) (55/1)- Started better then she finished, being the outside horse of a group of four that was battling for third early on. Dropped to the back and ends up being soundly beaten.

About The Winner- Dawning Ice Age, trained by Maxmillion Farm and ridden to victory by R Mejias, is a three year old filly by the underrated Dawning and is out of Polar Wind. She was bred by Patterson Stables as a second quarter two year old, and acquired by Maxmillion Farm for $60.000 in a November 2019 private sale. The with is her fourth in 10 starts, and her second graded win. Her career earnings are now $505.600.

Track: Firm
Time: :46⁴  1:10¹  1:33⁴  1:45⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 8 – 4 Paid 59.70
$1 Trifecta: 8 – 4 – 5 Paid 851.20

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES