Crown Queen Looks Royal in QE II Victory

Crown Queen, a half sister to champion Royal Delta, earned her first grade I victory with a sparkling late run in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane's End (gr. IT) at Keeneland Oct. 11 .



With John Velazquez aboard, Crown Queen swept past pacesetter Sea Queen in the drive and held off Ball Dancing by three-quarters of a length while completing the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:49.98 over a soft turf course.



Crown Queen is trained by Bill Mott, who also conditioned Royal Delta, for owner Besilu Stables. The 3-year-old daughter of Smart Strike   out of the A.P. Indy mare Delta Princess was bred in Kentucky by Palides Investments N.V. She was a $1.6 million purchase from Chanteclair Farm's consignment in the Palides dispersal at the 2011 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.



Sent off at 5-2 odds, Crown Queen paid $7.20 to win while winning for the fourth time in as many starts in 2014. Ball Dancing was second, with Sistas Stroll and Personal Diary finishing in a dead heat for third.

"We ran her a couple of times as a 2-year-old, and (owner) Mr. (Ben) Leon wanted to give her some time over the winter to mature and grow up a little bit. It's worked out perfectly. He made a good call, and she's undefeated this season and now she's a grade I stakes winner," Mott said.



"It was a very special win for me since I trained her mother (Delta Princess) and her grandmother (Lyphard's Delta) and a lot of the family (including multiple champion Royal Delta). It's a very meaningful win for me."



As for a potential start in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park, Mott said no decision has been made Crown Queen might race next.

"That goes to the drawing board. We've gotta' talk about that," he said.



Crown Queen was coming off a half length tally in the Knob Creek Lake Placid (gr. IIT) Aug. 16, her stakes debut over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.



Stalking from mid-pack near the inside for Velazquez in the opening quarter mile, Crown Queen shifted out a bit while pressing from third around the final turn. She then turned it loose in the drive to collar the weakening Sea Queen just past the eighth pole and repelled the late run of Ball Dancing and jockey Joe Bravo in deep stretch.



"I imagined that she was going to be close right from the gate, but when she didn't break very good it was a blessing in disguise because I had to get her nice and relaxed going into that first turn," Velazquez said. "I dropped in and saved some ground and by the time we got to the backstretch I just put her in the clear and let her get her momentum going. From then on, it was all her. She put in a good fight down the lane as well."



The late-running Ball Dancing, an import from France who won her United States debut in the Sands Point (gr. IIT) Sept. 13 at Belmont Park, also gave a solid effort for Bravo and trainer Chad Brown. She rallied from sixth on the bend for Bravo to make it close, two lengths clear of Sistas Stroll, closing from last under Drayden Van Dyke, and Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) winner Personal Diary, ridden by Corey Nakatani.



"My horse leveled off beautifully," Bravo said. "Turning for home, I was really excited."



Minorette was fifth, followed by Sea Queen, who provided an even pace while pursued by Minorette through splits of :24.58, :48.80, and 1:13.15 over the soft ground. Speed Seeker trailed.



Under equal weights of 121 pounds, Crown Queen was worth $7.20, $4.20, and $2.60 across the board, topping a $24 exacta with Ball Dancing returning $4 and $2.60. Sistas Stroll and Personal Diary each paid $2.60 to show.



Aurelia's Belle and Daring Dancer scratched.



Crown Queen earned $300,000 for her fourth lifetime win in six starts (she was third in both of her maiden races at 2) to more than double her bankroll to $593,000.