Her Emmynency narrowly prevails in QE II Challenge Cup

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Her Emmynency pulled a 19-1 upset Saturday she outnodded a tough-luck Miss Temple City in the Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup before 23,788 sun-splashed fans Saturday at Keeneland.

Always prominent under Florent Geroux, Her Emmynency barely lasted to prevail by a head over Miss Temple City, an 8-1 chance. Sentiero Italia, the 3-5 favorite off back-to-back Grade 2 wins in New York, was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies.

The victory perpetuates a breakthrough year for jockey Geroux and added an important chapter to Her Emmynency’s story – one interrupted last fall by a perilous bout with colitis.

“She’s really a brave filly,” said Mike Stidham, who trains Her Emmynency for Ike and Dawn Thrash. “It was touch-and-go with her back when she got sick. She’s come a long way, the way she’s matured into a really nice 3-year-old.”

With a quarter-mile to go in the 1 1/8-mile QE II, Her Emmynency took over from the front-running longshot Mizz Money while shifting closer to the rail for the drive. That subtle move caused jockey Drayden Van Dyke to briefly check aboard the pace-tracking Miss Temple City, who then angled outside with a sustained stretch bid that barely missed. An owner’s objection on behalf of Miss Temple City against the winner was dismissed by the stewards.

Her Emmynency, a $115,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland, returned $40 to win after finishing in 1:48.84 over firm turf. A daughter of Successful Appeal, Her Emmynency was winning for the fourth time in seven starts, with two runner-up finishes coming in Grade 1 events.

“She’d finished close in those Grade 1’s before, so this one comes well-deserved,” said Stidham.

For Geroux, the QE II adds to a career-best year, one in which the 29-year-old Frenchman has won two other Grade 1 races, the Arlington Million and Cotillion, as well as 18 other stakes.

Sentiero Italia had no apparent mishap under Joel Rosario. After breaking cleanly from her outside post, she raced in sixth for much of the trip and mustered only a mild outside bid when set down.

After the top three, the order was Olorda, Return to Grace, Blond Me, Prize Exhibit, Feathered, and Mizz Money.

The $2 exacta (4-3) paid $265.40, the $1 trifecta (4-3-9) returned $349.50, and the 10-cent superfecta (4-3-9-6) was worth $318.27.