Gina Romantica Wins Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup
Image:
Description:
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Gina Romantica wins the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland
As Peter Brant's Gina Romantica burst through a seam between rivals in deep stretch of the $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) Oct. 15 at Keeneland, the reality of her impending victory hit breeders Craig and Carrie Brogden of Machmer Hall.
There were jumps of joy, cheers, and tears when Peter Brant's 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief hit the wire 1 3/4 lengths ahead of fellow Chad Brown trainee and race favorite McKulick . Gina Romantica became the fourth graded stakes winner produced by her dam, the Unbridled's Song mare Special Me, and became the latest grade 1 winner for the Machmer Hall program whose graduates include Tepin , the champion turf mare of 2015-16.
"It's the pinnacle of what all breeders try to do," Carrie Brogden said. "We try to breed a (Kentucky) Derby winner and if we can't breed a Derby winner, we try to breed a top grass mare like Tepin or Gina Romantica."
Carrie and Craig Brogden
Gina Romantica already rewarded her breeders in the sales ring, where she sold to BSW/Crow for $1.25 million from Machmer Hall Sales' consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Her dam, who stands just 14.2 hands and was born prematurely, was a $6,000 purchase by the breeders from Dark Hollow's consignment to the 2009 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.
"We bought this mare for $6,000 and it has paid for everything with Craig and I," Brogden said. "it's paid for all three of our kids' education... she's the lynchpin of our family."
"Her name's Special Me and she is a special (mare)," Craig Brogden said.
Gina Romantica in the ring at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale
Gina Romantica rated fourth in the pocket under Flavien Prat Saturday, as Paris Peacock rushed out to post a swift opening quarter of :23.66 in her U.S. debut. California invader Bellabel raced second and McKulick was third in the six-horse field. Those two traded places as the half went in :48.22, with the order of the top four unchanged through three-quarters in 1:12.83.
With nowhere to go as the field turned for home, Gina Romantica split horses two wide leaving the three-sixteenths pole and surged between them to eke out the advantage, then kicked clear to victory. She raced 1 1/8 miles on a firm turf course in 1:48.20.
"She broke really well," Prat said. "I actually was OK to make the lead, but the pace was fast so I got myself tucked in. She relaxed well and really kicked on well when it was time to make a move. (I knew it was time to make a move) once I got the gap (at the top of the stretch). Turning for home I got a good gap and squeezed on in and she responded really well."
California invader Bellabel completed the trifecta, with California Angel , She's Gone , and Paris Peacock completing the order of finish. New Year's Eve was scratched.
Brown captured his fifth Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup after winning with Dayatthespa in 2012, Rushing Fall in 2018, Cambier Parc in 2019, and Shantisara in 2021.
"(Of our) five Queen Elizabeth (wins), this is probably the most memorable, obviously, with the recent passing of The Queen," Brown said. "What an honor even to participate in the race, but to have such success in it—we're just really lucky to work with these horses."
Gina Romantica ($11.06) took an indirect route to grade 1 success on the Keeneland lawn. She broke her maiden in March sprinting on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs, and ran at Keeneland in the spring but finished sixth on the main track in the Beaumont Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3). She also won an off-the-turf allowance going 1 1/16 miles in May at Belmont Park, but after a fourth on the main track in the July 14 Wilton Stakes going a mile on the dirt at Saratoga Race Course, her connections moved her to the grass.
She won the Aug. 25 Riskaverse Stakes at Saratoga, then finished second in the Sept. 18 Pebbles Stakes (G3T) at Belmont at the Big A meeting last time out. The QEII improved her record to four wins and a second from seven starts, with earnings of $553,540.
"Getting her out there in distance a little more (was key)," Brown said, "and she has more experience on the turf. She caught a clean break and I thought Flavien rode a terrific race. She proved she can get the extra distance and step up with top-class fillies. (It took) a lot of patience and a lot of Plan B and C with a horse we thought first was a dirt horse."
Special Me also produced 2019 Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1) winner Gift Box , multiple grade 2 winner Stonetastic , and 2019 Autumn Stakes (G2) winner Special Forces . The mare produced a full brother to Gina Romantica Feb. 26 and was bred to Twirling Candy for 2023.
"The colt is at our farm and (Keeneland sales associate) Kyle (Wilson) already made me promise we'll sell him at Keeneland September (next year)," Brogden said.
Gina Romantica and her connections in the winner's circle