AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP S. (G1), 9TH-KEE, $500,000, 3YO, F, 1 1/8MT, 5:05 P.M. EDT, 10-17 |
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| 1 |
HAMEILDAEME (GB), 3, f, by Storming Home (GB)Sweet Cando, by Royal Applause (GB) O-Newmarket Thoroughbred Racing LLC; B-Mrs. Lucille Bone (GB) |
| 2 |
MISS WORLD, 3, f, by BernsteinMoonstar, by Kingmambo O-Waratah Thoroughbreds; B-Kilboy Estate Inc. (Ky) |
| 3 |
HOT CHA CHA, 3, f, by Cactus RidgeReduced Sentence, by Broad Brush O-Nelson McMakin; B-Nelson McMakin (Ky) |
| 4 |
GOZZIP GIRL, 3, f, by DynaformerTemperence Gift, by Kingmambo O-Farnsworth Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (Ky) |
| 5 |
SHARED ACCOUNT, 3, f, by Pleasantly PerfectSilk n’ Sapphire, by Smart Strike O-Sagamore Farm; B-William A. Carl (Ky) |
| 6 |
LADY SHAKESPEARE, 3, f, by Theatrical (Ire)Lady Shirl, by That’s a Nice O-Charles E Fipke; B-Charles Fipke (Ky) |
| 7 |
BLIND DATE, 3, f, by Not for LoveSnit, by Fit to Fight O-William M Backer; B-William M. Backer (Md) |
A pair of Grade 1 heroines will highlight the prestigious $500,000 Queen
Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday, and we
feel that the race will come down to those two. Garden City S. (G1) upsetter
MISS WORLD (Bernstein) has vaulted through the turf ranks in a hurry for
Christophe Clement, capped by a visually impressive tally at Belmont most
recently. The budding star seemingly adored the soft turf last out and with the
likelihood of a soggy course, we expect her to notch her second Grade 1 win in
succession beneath Rajiv Maragh.
American Oaks Invitational (G1) star GOZZIP GIRL (Dynaformer) had a
nightmarish trip in the Garden City last out and is an obvious threat to rebound
from that unfortunate voyage for Tom Albertrani. The stylish turf filly has
bagged a quartet of grassy stakes wins in her career and is versatile from a running
standpoint, so we give her a huge chance to return to her winning ways. We’d
prefer the Kentucky-bred on firm ground.
The mystery horse to us is the well-bred LADY SHAKESPEARE (Theatrical [Ire]),
who is kin to some turf monsters and looks to be rounding into one off her own.
The Roger Attfield pupil has rolled to four wins in succession with a potent
late foot in Canada, and it’s slightly unknown as to how her form up north will
transfer to the Bluegrass. We’ve long admired Attfield and his chestnut
filly has never been better, so we’ll give her a decent chance at a fair price.
Recent Pucker Up S. (G3) vixen HOT CHA CHA (Cactus Ridge) is a nose shy of
being a Grade 3 winner over the course for Philip Sims, just missing in the
Appalachian S. (G3) in the spring. The ultra-consistent lass has won three of her
last seven and has yet to finish more than 1 1/2 lengths behind a winner in that
span, signaling her top form. The sophomore is an exotics contender under James
Graham.
Garden City runner-up SHARED ACCOUNT (Pleasantly Perfect) has never been
better for Graham Motion and has elevated her game since trying the grass four
prior. The Grade 2 queen will seemingly never have a better chance to win a
Grade 1 race as she did last out, but with that said, she can’t be ignored under
Edgar Prado.
Virginia Oaks (G3) starlet BLIND DATE (Not for Love) has won three of four on
the sod and is a six-time winner from nine career tries for Hamilton Smith. The
bay miss showed a big turn of foot at Colonial over soft going and is another
who should be in the mix for a placing late with something close to her best.
HAMEILDAEME (GB) (Storming Home [GB]) is a one-run closer who has rallied for
some good results since arriving in the United States, notably a third-place finish in
the San Clemente H. (G2) earlier this campaign for trainer James Lloyd. The
consistent dark bay looks to be a cut below many of these on ability, but she’s
not that far off and it’s possible she moves up on a turf course with some give
in it. Alex Solis will have the call aboard the exotics threat.