QE II Challenge Cup (Grade 1)- $500.000 Purse
KEE- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
October 15, 2016

Three year old fillies take a break from beating up on the older ladies in Saturday’s running of the QE II Challenge Cup, a Grade 1 on the turf that will take place for the 12th time.   It is a race that just two years ago was won by Attraction, a filly who has now surpassed over $4,000.000 in career earnings.  She not only won that race, but returned three weeks later in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf and became a BC champion!  The feat was also accomplished in 2009 by the late Soliloquy.   QE winners have not always gone to the BC, and last year’s winner, Condottieris Fox was one of them, instead opting for the Grade 1 Matriarch late in November.  So, it becomes a decision that all of these trainers would love to make.  There are eight going to the gate, so let’s run through the field.

#1- Clash Of The Viking (Sanny Village, ridden by R J Albarado)- Yep, that’s a goose egg in the win column.  Clash Of The Viking is still a maiden as she has shown a knack for finishing second in her career, doing so four times in six starts.    While you can never rule anyone out that starts on the rail in our game, it does look like she is a tick behind others in this field.   We know it can be done, but I will pass.

#2- Eastern Sweetness (Mb Stables, ridden by M E Smith)- She has won two out of three since being purchased by the current trainer in private sales for $65.000, including a 104 SRF in an optional claimer in her last outing.  Other then that, she is still looking for her big signature win, having recently attempt the Grade 1 Diana.   Looks a couple tenths quicker then Clash Of The Viking, and she is a longshot herself here.

#3- Heartland (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- It is very impressive what the new trainer has done for this filly since claiming her for a mere $12.50.  Just a month after the claim, she was put into stake competition.  The first try did not result in a win, but the second one did, and that happened to be the Grade 1 DMR Oaks. May have come back to earth a little in her last start, or may have simply not liked the good turf.

#4- Lucky You (Rouge River Stables, ridden by F Prat)- Back in July, she attracted everyone’s attention when she drew even with Attraction, aka that horse we were just talking about in the introduction, in the Grade 1 Diana.   Since then, she has not followed it up how the trainer may have wanted, though at the same time has not been bad either.   The Rodeo Drive may have simply been too long for her, and if the Diana was not a fluke, then she should be the best in here.

#5- Ena Barb (Canadian Racing, ridden by L Contreras)- The Canadian superstar comes south of the border for just the second time this year.  She has spend her season mostly dominating the ON-bred circuit, winning three of four stakes, including the $500.000 WO Oaks on the main track.  Only in her last start, also a win, did she run on the grass.  As it resulted in a win, the trainer wants to see how she can stack up in graded company again.  If nothing else, we know she knows how to get to the winners circle.

#6- Plucky Elmo (Hawaiian Shirt Guy, ridden by H A Karamanos)- The trainer will be looking to win this race for the second year in a row, and Plucky Elmo will be a contender as long as she is ready to run.  It’s only been three weeks, and when she raced on two weeks rest in August, it may have been one of her more disappointing starts of her three year old season.  She has done a great job for Hawaiian Shirt Guy since the $240.000 private sales transaction in July.

#7- Bake The Donut (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J J Castellano)- This filly by Got Baked has shown some inconsistency over the course of the season, but it does seem like she is in the best form of her career right now.  She scored back to back wins in the summer, including the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at DMR.   Her last race was the toughest she has ever been in, and it was probably too short for her.  I like this distance for her and feel she has a great shot.

#8- Shekinah (Blushing Meadows, ridden by D Moran)- While she has only won one race this year, Shekinah always seems to be in the mix.  Right away you can see the three second place finishes she has had this season, but even beyond that, she always seems to be within a length regardless of her actual finishing position.  Seems to be enjoying this exact nine furlong distance, so put all that together and you know that she may just need a little more luck to go her way and she can win on any day.

Prediction: 4-8-5-7

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES