Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Keeneland Fall Stakes Worth A Record $9.05M

The stakes schedule for the Keeneland Fall Meeting was released Wednesday, featuring 22 events worth a record $9.05 million in prize money.

The richest event is the $1-million GI Coolmore Turf Mile, while the purse for the GI Darley Alcibiades S. has been increased by $100,000 to $600,000. The Franklin S., raised to Grade II status for this running, will receive a $50,000 boost to $350,000. Of the 22 added-money events, 12 are slated for the turf and 10 on the dirt, with six programs offering multiple stakes. The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund is contributing $1.3 million to Fall Meet stakes purses, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

“The strength of the Fall Meet stakes schedule reflects our focus on providing the highest-quality racing for our horsemen and fans,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “With these additional increases, all Grade I stakes are now worth a minimum of $600,000; all Grade II stakes are $350,000; Grade III races are $300,000; and listed stakes are $250,000. We believe these purse levels will attract the best in the sport and make for an exciting fall season of racing.”

The traditional kick-off to the Fall Meet is 'FallStars Weekend' Oct. 6-8, with eight 'Win and You're In' qualifiers for various Breeders' Cup divisions. The opening day Alcibiades is complemented by the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. and the GII Jessamine S., sponsored for the first time by the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, taking place Nov. 7. The Saturday, Oct. 7 card features the Coolmore Turf Mile, the GI Breeders' Futurity–in its 10th year of sponsorship by Claiborne Farm–and the GII Thoroughbred Club of America S. as Breeders' Cup qualifiers, while the GI First Lady S. and GII Woodford S. are also set for day two of the meet. All three races on the Sunday program offer Breeders' Cup berths: the GI Juddmonte Spinster S., the GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. and the Listed Indian Summer S.

The 40th running of the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Oct. 14 anchors the second week of racing and will bring together some of the world's top 3-year-old turf fillies over nine furlongs on turf in the race first contested in 1984 to commemorate the Queen's visit to Keeneland and Lexington. The GIII Sycamore S. and Franklin are set for Oct. 13 and Oct. 15, respectively.

The GII Lexus Raven Run S. and GIII Rood & Riddle Dowager S. feature the weekend of Oct. 21 and 22, while the GIII Valley View S., the GIII Hagyard Fayette S. and GIII Bryan Station S. are slated closing weekend Oct. 27 and 28.

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Sophomore Turf Fillies Enjoy Saturday Spotlight

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle the top two choices on the morning-line for Saturday's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland, one of three graded stakes races on the afternoon.

McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the even-money choice to become Brown's fifth winner in this prestigious affair, broke through with a career high in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. July 9 and added the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. at Aqueduct Sept. 17 two starts later. She cuts back in trip to 1 1/8 miles here.

McKulick is named in honor of Brown's first-ever employee, bookkeeper Mary McKulick. McKulick passed away two years ago at the age of 67 after losing a battle with cancer.

Brown will also be represented by Gina Romantica (Into Mischief), heroine of Saratoga's Riskaverse S. Aug. 25 and runner-up as the favorite in the GIII Pebbles S. at Aqueduct Sept. 18 in her first two tries on grass.

'TDN Rising Star' New Year's Eve (Kitten's Joy), upset winner over McKulick in the GII Edgewood S. in the spring, cuts back in trip as well following a flat fourth as the favorite in the Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs Sept. 5.

Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) ships in from Phil D'Amato's Southern California base following a solid second-place finish behind the talented Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}) in the GI Del Mar Oaks Aug. 20. She may have a pace advantage over her six rivals in a race lacking early speed.

Last term's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), meanwhile, is the one to beat in Saturday's GII Sands Point S. at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. The 5-2 morning-line favorite makes her first trip to the post for Christophe Clement since an eighth-place finish in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17. The field of nine also includes Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Oaks one-two Vergara (Noble Mission {GB}) and Skims (GB) (Frankel {GB}); and narrow GIII Lake George S. runner-up Eminent Victor (Mr. Z).

Saturday's graded action is rounded out by Woodbine's GIII Ontario Fashion S.

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Background Check: Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Keeneland's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S., a race with a short history but a lengthy reach.

Much has been written in the past few weeks about the christening of the “QEII” and its beginning to honor the late Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Central Kentucky–and Keeneland–in 1984. As such, there have only been 38 runnings and a good third or so of the winners are too young to have yet given a fair representation of their ability as producers.

In spite of the abbreviated list in a sport full of history, a handful of the previous QEII winners have already passed on some very special ability. Following are the some of the most important QEII winners by what impact they have had on the sport through their sons and daughters.

Memories of Silver (1993, Silver Hawk–All My Memories, by Little Current): Who can forget the signature blaze of this wonderful Darby Dan/Galbreath/Phillips mare coming down the stretch in so many top turf contests? Her prowess continued as a producer with four stakes winners, including MGISW Winter Memories and GSW La Cloche. Her descendants in just the last five years have included French MGSW Spinning Memories (Ire), as well as U.S. GSWs Hawkish and Bellavais, plus MSW & MGSP Winter Sunset and GISP Seasons.

Perfect Arc (1992, Brown Arc–Podeica {Arg}, by Petronisi {GB}): Only one daughter produced any foals, but they include 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year and three-time Canadian turf female champ Starship Jubilee, whose nine graded wins on both sides of the border included the 2020 GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile over males. Perfect Arc was bred in New York by Delehanty Stock Farm.

La Gueriere (1988, Lord At War {Arg}–Lady Winborne, by Secretariat): Bred by Wimborne Farm, she kicked off her broodmare career with MGSW & MGISP Lasting Approval and eventually added GISW Icon Project, as well as two other stakes performers. One of the nation's current leading sires, MGSW & MGISP Munnings, is out of a daughter, as is GSW Fashion Business (GB).

Lotka (1983, Danzig–Kennelot, by Gallant Man {GB}): This Kennelot Stables/Henryk de Kwiatkowski homebred produced three black-type winners, including GSW & GISP Lotta Dancing, while her daughters and granddaughters have produced GISW Centralinteligence and GSW Fantasticat, as well as Chilean G1 winners Kurilov (Chi), Kitcat (Chi), Knockout (Chi), Kossimo (Chi), and Kirikina (Chi).

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Keeneland Honors Queen Elizabeth II

Edited Press Release

Keeneland has planted six cherry trees–three on either side of the infield tote board–in tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away Sept. 8. A lifelong horsewoman, Queen Elizabeth II attended the races at Keeneland Oct. 11, 1984, for the inaugural running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, for which she presented the trophy. The 39th edition of the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, presented by Dixiana, will be contested Saturday.

The tree planting at Keeneland is part of The Queen's Green Canopy initiative to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee and to serve as a living legacy to her “extraordinary service to her country and her people.”

“Queen Elizabeth II was an unmatched horsewoman and a tremendous patron of Thoroughbred racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We were fortunate to have welcomed The Queen to Keeneland and Central Kentucky, and her visits to the Bluegrass created a lasting connection. We are honored to pay tribute to her racing legacy.”

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