Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A terrific field of three-year-old fillies will contest Saturday’s Queen
Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. (G1) at Keeneland with all but two of the eight
entrants owning a graded or group win. SINGHALESE (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) was
caught in deep stretch of the Pucker Up S. (G3) last time at Arlington Park, but
we’ll look for the chestnut filly to make amends with her second Grade 1 tally.

Winner of the Del Mar Oaks (G1) two back, Singhalese has recorded strong BRIS
Speed and Late Pace ratings and has made steady progress for trainer James
Cassidy since being imported from Europe. She wasn’t much of a factor in her
first two U.S. attempts this spring but turned in an outstanding third-place
showing against a top-class field in the American Oaks (G1) in early July.
Following an easy score over optional claiming/allowance types, she rallied
boldly to win the Del Mar Oaks going away. Singhalese caught an off turf last
time at Arlington and has clearly shown a preference for firm ground. She’ll get
that Saturday and rates top billing.

LUAS LINE (Ire) (Danehill) finished fourth when making her U.S. bow in the
American Oaks, shipped back to England to win a pair of stakes races, and then
returned to capture the Garden City Breeders’ Cup (G1) last out at Belmont. She
did so impressively, overcoming running into a couple of geese in upper stretch
and drawing clear to a facile 1 1/2-length decision, and earned century-topping
Speed and Late Pace numbers. The David Wachman charge has trained over Turfway’s Polytrack for this appearance and owns the class to get the job done
here with her best effort.

GORELLA (Fr) (Grape Tree Road [GB]) merits serious respect in her U.S. debut.
Now trained by Patrick Biancone, the Group 2-winning chestnut exits a runner-up
finish to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) contender Starcraft (Soviet Song) in
the Prix de Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1) and has finished close behind champion
Divine Proportions (retired with a nine-for-10 mark) in a couple of stakes this
year. Gorella is one of Europe’s best three-year-old fillies and she seems to be
relatively unheralded entering this event. We like her chance and will use her
in all positions in some exotics.

KAREN’S CAPER (War Chant) missed by a nose when second in this year’s
Coronation S. (Eng-G1) and has been facing top-class opposition all season for
trainer John Gosden, who excels at bringing horses to America for the first
time. She will be stretching out past a mile for the first time, but Karen’s
Caper remains a huge threat to produce a strong showing in her first start
stateside.

ISLA COZZENE (Cozzene) is an intriguing play for the bottom of the exotics at
long odds. A close third in June’s Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) in her first
start after breaking her maiden, the Nick Canani charge was no factor in the
American Oaks but bounced back to finish one spot behind Singhalese in her last
two starts. The bay filly will face a class check here, but Isla Cozzene is a
promising lass with much room for improvement. We wouldn’t be surprised to see
her grab a top three placing.

THREE DEGREES (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) exits a runner-up finish in the Del Mar
Oaks and can’t be dismissed from consideration in this deep field. The gray miss
owns a strong late kick and brings Alex Solis to Kentucky with her, and Three
Degrees owns a win and a second from two starts at the distance.

NAISSSANCE ROYALE (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway) steps up off a commendable score
in the Lake Placid S. (G2) at Saratoga in mid-August. The Christophe Clement
runner will likely be forwardly placed from the start, but we’ll just watch to
see how she handles the class hike. SWEET TALKER (Stormin Fever) will likely
show the way early with Rafael Bejarano, but she’ll probably have a difficult
time sustaining her speed against this company.