Fionn targets Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup as next start
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The 3-year-old filly Fionn has become a very rich girl in 2025.
“It’s amazing that she’s the fourth-leading earner in America this year,” trainer Brad Cox said.
Fionn has won 5 of 6 starts in 2025 to lift her earnings for this year to $1,737,970. In standings posted by Equibase, she sits off a trio of male runners in Sovereignty ($5.6 million), Journalism ($3.8 million) and White Abarrio ($1.9 million).
Fionn won the $2 million Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational at Kentucky Downs in her most recent out Sept. 10. It was her third consecutive stakes win behind the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational at Saratoga.
Cox said last week that Fionn is on pace to make her next start in the Grade 1, $800,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies Oct. 11 at Keeneland.
“It’s a race that carries a lot of prestige, especially for these fillies and their value going forward,” Cox said. “If all goes well, we’d look at the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.”
Fionn is a daughter of Twirling Candy who races for George Messina and Michael Lee.
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