Top Turf Fillies Compete for Crown in Queen Elizabeth II
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Description:
Ball Dancing made a splash in her U.S. debut when winning the Sands Point Stakes. (Photos by NYRA/Adam Coglinese)
The 31st running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland brings together a superbly talented field of nine, five of them entering the race off graded stakes victories. Among the most notable achievements at the highest level, Personal Diary just won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks in California while Ball Dancing won the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes in New York. Crown Queen won the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes in her most recent race while Minorette won the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational one start before finishing fourth to Crown Queen. Recent Grade 3 stakes winners Sistas Stroll (Pucker Up Stakes) and Aurelia's Belle (Arlington Park Oaks) are two more with credentials to succeed as is Daring Dancer, winner of the Grade 2 Lake George Stakes before a sixth place effort behind Ball Dancing.
Contenders:
Ball Dancing was making her U.S. debut on September 13 in the Sands Point Stakes and what a debut it was as she rallied wide with a quarter mile to run and made up four and one-half lengths in short order. Earning a 96 Equibase Speed Figure after a three month rest prior to the race, Ball Dancing ran the last eighth of a mile in a sparkling 11.6 seconds and is likely to run even better in her second stateside start. As rain is expected, an important thing to note is that Ball Dancing won on a course labeled "good to soft" in France so would have no problem if the Keeneland turf is less than firm.
Crown Queen may be a perfect three-for-three this year including a win in the Lake Placid Stakes in August in her first stakes try but she may actually be better known as a half-sister to three-time Eclipse Award Winner and two-time Breeder's Cup Ladies' Classic (now Distaff) winner Royal Delta. Having matured considerably at the age of three and improving her figure markedly in her last two races, from 101 to 112 in the Lake Placid, Crown Queen will be a formidable contender in this year's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.
CROWN QUEEN AT SARATOGA
Personal Diary was beaten by Aurelia's Belle, Sea Queen, Minorette and Daring Dancer this year and last year. She has, however, improved markedly in her most recent race when rallying from eighth and far back to not only win but draw off late by nearly three lengths in the Del Mar Oaks in August. With a career best 106 to improve upon and with jockey Corey Nakatani coming to Kentucky to ride her after being in the saddle for the first time in the Oaks, Personal Diary could win her second grade one race in succession.
The rest of the field, with their best representative  Equibase Speed Figures: Aurelia's Belle (100), Daring Dancer (102), Minorette (112), Sea Queen (102), Sistas Stroll (98) and Speed Seeker (98).
My Selections:
Ball Dancing
Crown Queen
Personal Diary
$500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes
Race 9, Keeneland, Post Time 5:13 PM E.T.
1 1/8 miles on turf, 3-year-old fillies
PP
Horse
Jockey
Weight
Trainer
1
Sistas Stroll (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
121
Tom Proctor
2
Minorette (KY)
Joel Rosario
121
Chad Brown
3
Speed Seeker (FL)
James Graham
121
Joan Scott
4
Aurelia's Belle (KY)
Channing Hill
121
Wayne Catalano
5
Personal Diary (KY)
Corey Nakatani
121
Victoria Oliver
6
Ball Dancing (KY)
Joe Bravo
121
Chad Brown
7
Sea Queen (KY)
Irad Ortiz Jr.
121
Christophe Clement
8
Crown Queen (KY)
John Velazquez
121
Bill Mott
9
Daring Dancer (MD)
Alan Garcia
121
Graham Motion