Castle Lady joins European contingent in Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf

Castle Lady, the Irish-bred filly who finished second to Cambier Parc in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Keeneland last Saturday, will run back in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, trainer Henri-Alex Pantall confirmed Wednesday.

Castle Lady saved all the ground in the Queen Elizabeth, and in the stretch made a menacing run at Cambier Parc, who held her at bay late. Cambier Parc is not running in the Breeders’ Cup.

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Pantall noted that the Queen Elizabeth was Castle Lady’s first race since she ran fifth in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes on June 21 at Ascot. Castle Lady is owned by Godolphin Racing.

“She hadn’t run in a long time,” Pantall said by phone from France. “She ran very well; she’s making progress. The filly is very well now.”

Castle Lady was one of several new names to surface for the Filly and Mare Turf. Also pointing to the Breeders’ Cup, according to a representative of the International Racing Bureau, are Fanny Logan, trained by John Gosden and a winner of four straight, including the Group 3 Darley Pride Stakes on Oct. 11 at Newmarket; and Silva, winner of the Group 3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon at Longchamp.

European-based runners Villa Marina and Iridessa had previously been confirmed as starters.

Deirdre and Fleeting, who have both been mentioned as possible Filly and Mare Turf starters, are both entered in races at Ascot this weekend.

The North American-based contingent remains small, consisting of Sistercharlie, Mirth, Mrs. Sippy, Thais, and Vasilika, who will run provided trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is allowed to run horses in the Breeders’ Cup.