Euro Charline to skip Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

Euro Charline has been declared from consideration for the final Grade 1 race of the Keeneland fall meet, the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Saturday, after trainer Todd Pletcher did not work the filly as scheduled Monday at Belmont. The British-bred filly loomed a solid favorite in the QE II.

“It’s extremely disappointing,” said Barry Irwin, who manages the Team Valor International partnership that owns Euro Charline. “She has a little filling and soreness in her right hind ankle. It looks like she has the start of bone bruising in the condyle of her right hind leg, so we’re sending her off for further evaluation. In the meantime, it looks like she’ll be off a couple of months.”

Euro Charline defeated older fillies and mares in winning the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington Park in her most recent start Aug. 16, when still trained by Marco Botti. She was moved to the Pletcher barn shortly after.

Without Euro Charline, nine invitees still remain for the 1 1/8-mile QE II, for which entries will be drawn Wednesday: Aurelia’s Belle, Ball Dancing, Crown Queen, Daring Dancer, Minorette, My Conquestadory, Personal Diary, Sea Queen, and Xcellence.