Jet Dark, Queen Supreme Earn Breeders' Cup Berths

C.T. Crowe and N. Jonsson's 3-year-old Jet Dark split horses in the final two furlongs and prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Rainbow Bridge  in the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1) Jan. 9 at Kenilworth Racecourse, earning an automatic berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

One race earlier, Mauritzfontein's Queen Supreme  successfully defended her title in the Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1), upsetting previously unbeaten Summer Pudding, and earned a free berth into the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T). 

Now in its 14th season, the Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into corresponding races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held this year Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees for the winners of both races and provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside North America to compete in the World Championships. Challenge winners must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

Jet Dark, a 3-year-old Trippi  colt, is trained by Justin Snaith, who also saddled third-place finisher Belgarion and fourth-place finisher Do It Again , who won the 2019 Queen's Plate.

Held before no spectators because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Queen's Plate started with a field of eight breaking cleanly. Hurricane Harry set the early pace. Jet Dark, off at 6-1 odds and ridden by Grant Van Niekerk, stayed in mid-pack just off the rail through the first half-mile. After turning into the home stretch, Cirillo edged closer to Hurricane Harry, while to their outside Rainbow Bridge and Belgarion started to hit their best stride. Then in a burst of speed inside the two-furlong marker, Van Niekerk sent Jet Dark between the fading Hurricane Harry and Cirillo and into the lead. Rainbow Bridge made a final surge, but could not catch Jet Dark at the wire.

In picking up his fourth win in seven starts, and his first group 1 triumph, Jet Dark completed the mile in 1:38.38.

While the focus of the Cartier Paddock Stakes was on the 9-for-9 Summer Pudding, dubbed the "Reflection of Perfection," it was Mike de Kock-trained Queen Supreme who reigned again, storming home down the center of the course in the final furlong under Keagan De Melo. Retaining her title, the 9-4 second choice, Queen Supreme, finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Clouds Unfold.

On the turn for home in the 12-horse field, the 5-year-old Exceed  And Excel mare was in fourth place, eight lengths behind the pace-setting Heart Stwings, and just ahead Summer Pudding. Steadily, Queen Supreme picked up stride inside the four-furlong marker and forged to the front in the last 200 yards. 

Queen Supreme, who completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.32, has won seven races in 13 starts.

Three-time group 1 winner Summer Pudding, also owned by Mauritzfontein, could not sustain a drive to the wire and wound up seventh.