Breakthrough Win for Her Emmynency in Queen Elizabeth II Cup
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Her Emmynency held off Miss Temple City to win the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
After finishing second by less than a length in two previous Grade 1 races, Her Emmynency would not be denied at Keeneland Race Course on Saturday when she battled bravely to the finish line to win the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes.
The bay filly opened a two-length lead in early stretch under Florent Geroux and needed every ounce of stamina in reserve to fend off a late rally from runner-up Miss Temple City. Her Emmynency won by a head, completing the 1 1/8-mile turf race in 1:48.84 for her fourth win in seven career starts for owners Ike and Dawn Thrash.
“She had two really tough defeats in Grade 1s previously, so this was well deserved for her,” said winning trainer Mike Stidham, referring to her second to Sunset Glow in the 2014 Del Mar Debutante and second to Sharla Rae in the Del Mar Oaks in her last race. “[Jockey] Florent [Geroux] did a great job.
“From two to three, she’s come a long way in maturity. She’s a very nice filly.”
The Thrashes purchased Her Emmynency for $115,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. She won two of three races as a 2-year-old, including the Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
She entered the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes, a Grade 1 race restricted to 3-year-old fillies, off of a second in the Del Mar Oaks that set her up for a big performance at Keeneland.
“When I asked her [to accelerate] turning for home, she gave me a good kick and she was very brave all the way to the end,” Geroux said
The connections of Miss Temple City lodged a claim of foul against Her Emmynency for interference near the top of the stretch, but the result stood following a review by the track’s stewards.
Sentiero Italia, the 7-to-10 favorite, finished another 2 ¾ lengths back in third in the nine-horse field.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
THRILLING FINISH IN QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP