2013 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup; Which Filly Will Be Crowned Saturday?

2013 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (GI); Which Filly Will Be Crowned Saturday?

The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup is set for this Saturday, October 12, 2013 at Keeneland Race Course near Lexington, Kentucky. It’s run at the distance of 1 1/8 miles on the lawn for three-year-old fillies with a purse of $500,000 and is an important prep race to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The race was inaugurated on October 11, 1984, in honor of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who attended the Keeneland races during her private visit to Central Kentucky and who presented a trophy on that date. The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup was a Listed race in 1984 and 1985, a Grade III race in 1986 and 1987, and a Grade II race from 1988 through 1990 after which it became a Grade I event. The race record is held by Memories of Silver in 1:45.80 and last year’s winner was Chad Brown’s Dayatthespa. The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cub is one of the top 3 year-old filly races in the country and this year’s field looks to be saturated with talent.

This race is set for a post time of 5:21 PM ET and is the 9th race of the day on a card of 10.

Discreet Marq & Alterite looked to have a rematch here after Alterite made her North American debut winning over Discreet Marq by 1 ½ lengths in the Garden City Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park in September. However, it looks like Discreet Marq by-passed and I’m bummed. She was one of my picks and I was so ready to watch her race again. I’m hoping they are waiting for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf to run her. Alterite looks to be the headliner here with Chad Brown looking for his second win in a row for this race.

The French filly Alterite, a daughter of Literato and trained by Chad Brown had not been to the winner’s circle since her 3-year-old debut on March 26 at Saint Cloud in the Prix La Camargo. After arriving here to race, she won the (GI) Garden City stakes on September 14 , 2013. She also has the same connections of the mare Zagora who came over here last year and won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, then went back to France to be bred. Alterite is the filly to beat here and I will take a shot with the filly Emotional Kitten.

I’ve been on Emotional Kitten’s bus all summer long. This Wesley Ward trained baby of Kitten’s last out was 3rd in the Del Mar Oaks (GI) on August 17, 2013 and prior she was second in the Betfair Hollywood Park American Oaks (GI), so she has hit twice in two stakes races. She does have a win at Keeneland in April of this year in an Allowance race. She’s posted two works at Keeneland on the turf with one most recently on October 3 where she went 6F in 1:13.80 handily 1/2. Emotional Kitten has G.Gomez up to ride and she exits door #5.

I like the daughter of Readys Image trained by Wayne Catalano, I’m Already Sexy. Last out she was a gate to wire winner in the Pucker Up (GIII) at Arlington Park on September 14, 2013 at 1 1/8 miles. This was her first stakes race and prior to that she has two wins at Arlington Park one on August 17 at 1 1/16 and one on July 5 at 5F, in an Allowance race. She looks tuned up to run here by working 5F on the main track here at Keeneland in 59:20 galloping out 6F in 1:12.40. I’m Already Sexy has 5 wins out of 9 and exits hole #9 with F.Geroux in the saddle.

Alterite is the one to beat and I am hoping Emotional Kitten is up to the task. Hopefully I picked the right Kitten’s Joy baby here as I really dig her to blow out a (GI) win here as Wesley Ward is one of my favorite trainers and I’m hoping he gets another score here. The race looks to setup with I’m Already Sexy & Leigh Court up front to set the pace. The filly I’m Already Sexy is on a winning streak and you gotta love the name too. The other one of interest to me is the Canadian shipper with wins at Woodbine and a race record of 8-5-2, Leigh Court. With these two setting the pace, I’d hope they stick around to pick up the pieces in any order along with Alterite. May the luck be with all of the ladies in the 2013 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and safe run to all.

Related Links: 
What to wear to the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cups Stakes

2013 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cups Stakes Post Positions & Odds
1. Sarach 10/1 M.Garcia/R.Mandella
2. Say (IRE) 10/1 J.Graham/P.O’Brien
3. Caroline Thomas 12/1 R.Napravnik/B.Tagg
4. Alterite 9/5 J.R.Velazquez/C.Brown
5. Emotional Kitten 6/1 G.Gomez/W.Ward
6. Concise (GB) 12/1 E.Prado/H.G.Motion
7. Kitten’s Dumplings 3/1 J.R.Leparoux/M.Maker
8. Leigh Court 10/1 L.G.Boulanger/J.Carroll
9. I’m Already Sexy 8/1 F.Geroux/W.Catalano