QE II Challenge Cup (Grade 1)- $800.000 Purse
KEE- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
October 11, 2025

Plenty was on the line at KEE on Saturday in the QE II Challenge Cup, with an $800.000 purse up for grabs for a balanced field of eight. Picking up the win would be the post-time favorite, Mami, for Alydar Stables, and it’s her fifth win in nine starts on the year! She was our second choice and will certainly be one to watch over the near future. For Alydar Stables, this is the first time that he has won the QE II Challenge Cup, and it is the third time that J R Velazquez has ridden the winner. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:45.73, which is among the better such times for the race. Let’s take a look at it now:

(½ Mile- :47.33)- Ediana surges to the front from the outside for Royalty Stables and will have the field cleared by a length in the front stretch the first time. That advantage would shrink as they moved around the opening turn, and after a half mile, it’s actually Fierce Competitor, from Mb Stables, with the lead by a head. Ediana remains second, but running right with the top two is our eventual winner from Alydar Stables, Mami. She’s running in the third lane at this time. Spanish Empire stalks the pace for Arindel, and nearby to her outside is Maxmillion Farm’s Charlenes Way. It’s another length to The Lady Of Sod (Nakamura Stables) and Love (Mo Mentum Farm), and about two and a half to the trailer, Sannys Legacy (Threshold).

(3/4 Mile- 1:10.77)- Mami is not going to wait around and will take over the top spot while in the back stretch. At the top of the turn, she leads Fierce Competitor by a neck, as that one still runs well. The same cannot be said for Ediana, who loses a length and now has Spanish Empire also about to go by on her outside. Charlenes Way loses some ground as well and now runs alongside The Lady Of Sod and Love. Sanny Legacy is three lengths further back.

(Top of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Mami looks good in the turn, and is still the leader entering the stretch. Her advantage is half a length on Fierce Competitior, who is on the rail. Spanish Empire is now a clear third, pulling away from Ediana, and has room to come between the two in front of her. It’s a length and a half to Ediana, The Lady Of Sod, and Love, who are still running alongside one another. Charlenes Way is tiring on the outside. Sanny Legacy has yet to show anything.

(Finish- 1:45.73)- Mami will maintain a steady and consistent stride all the way to the wire, as she wins by about a length. Spanish Empire gets the head bob in a tight photo for place with the one we picked to win, Love. The Lady Of Sod does enough to be fourth, edging our Fierce Competitor, who did not live up to her name in the final strides. It’s a length a half to Sannys Legacy, who tops Ediana and Charlenes Way.

About The Winner- Mami, trained by Alydar Stables and ridden to victory by J R Velazquez, is a three-year-old filly by Jersey Express and is out of Honest Quality. She was bred in Texas by Alydar Stables as a second quarter year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in 12 starts, her fourth stake win and second graded win. Her career earnings are now $1,050.060.

Track: Firm
Time: :47¹  1:10³  1:34  1:45³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 2 Paid 56.10
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 2 – 6 Paid 295.90

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES