Keeneland: Alterite gives Brown big shot to complete stakes triple in Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

LEXINGTON, Ky. – There seems to be a pattern developing here.

Last October, Chad Brown swept the twin Belmont Park turf stakes for 2-year-olds when Noble Tune won the Pilgrim Stakes and Watsdachances took the Miss Grillo. A week later, Brown was at Keeneland to send out Dayatthespa to victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

Well, here he goes again: Brown won both Belmont stakes again last weekend with Bobby’s Kitten and Testa Rossi, and now he’s on his way here to saddle the French filly, Alterite, as the likely favorite Saturday in the 30th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 QE II.

“I kind of like how that all fits together,” Brown said by phone early this week from Belmont. “We’re going to try to keep it going, for sure.”

Alterite was imported to the United States this summer from France, a well-established pattern of success for owner Martin Schwartz, who has won major American events doing the same with such female turf standouts as Gorella, Asi Siempre, Angara, Stacelita, and Zagora. In her first stateside start after nine races in France, Alterite won the Grade 1 Garden City at Belmont Park on Sept. 14 as a 3-1 shot with John Velazquez aboard.

“She came very well regarded,” Brown said. “She’s had two works since the Garden City and all systems are go. We’re excited about running her in such a prestigious race there at Keeneland.”

Alterite was one of 11 3-year-old fillies expected when entries were drawn Wednesday for the QE II, which goes at 1 1/8 miles on turf. She was expected on the Keeneland grounds Tuesday after a flight from New York.

The QE II highlights a card that will draw thousands of additional fans who are in town for the Alabama-Kentucky football game Saturday evening.

Full field for Franklin County

An oversubscribed field of 14 filly and mare turf sprinters, including defending champion Madame Giry, is entered in the Friday feature at Keeneland, the $100,000 Franklin County Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs.

From the hedge, this is the field for the 17th Franklin County, the ninth of 10 races: Magical Moon, Sweet Cassiopeia, Making Waves, Ms Anna Destiny, Lignite, Facey’s Spirit, Silverette, Madame Giry, Bounding Bi, Dene Court, Queen’s Award, and Jan’s Perfect Star. Also-eligibles are Trippin’ Along and Mosaicist. Actually, 17 were entered, with three excluded.

Turfway’s new racing secretary comes from Colonial

Tyler Picklesimer has been named director of racing and racing secretary at Turfway Park, replacing his stepfather, Rick Leigh, who has held those duties at the northern Kentucky track for more than 20 years.

Picklesimer, 42, has served since 2008 in identical roles at Colonial Downs in Virginia. Leigh, 66, is currently a steward at Keeneland and will continue to work the spring and fall meets at Keeneland and Churchill. Both live in the northern Kentucky area.

Rahystrada targets Sycamore

The 9-year-old Rahystrada is expected to be back in action when going 1 1/2 miles off a two-month layoff in the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes next Thursday, Oct. 17.

Trainer Scooter Hughes said he has been pointing to the Sycamore ever since Rahystrada “got a little regrouping” after an 11th-place finish in the Aug. 17 Arlington Million. Owned by Robert Courtney Jr., Rahystrada has earned nearly $1.4 million from 45 career starts.

Mother vs. daughter

Races pitting family members who own, train, or ride horses against one another are not all that uncommon in American racing, but here’s a matchup worth noting in the fifth race Thursday at Keeneland: mother versus daughter.

Helen Groves owns Coronette, while her daughter, Helen Alexander, owns Code Name Ava. The 2-year-old maiden fillies will be in the same saddling ring in the paddock before breaking alongside each other from posts 2 and 3, respectively, in the one-mile turf race.

◗ The Russians aren’t exactly overrunning Keeneland, but they do have a chance to combine for a blow-up exacta in the last race Thursday. Alexander Reznikov rides Purple Drop (10-1 morning line) for trainer Pavel Vashchenko, while Viktor Schulepov rides Pobeda (50-1) for Gennadi Dorochenko. Schulepov and Dorochenko won the first race of the meet Friday with 19-1 shot Araksia.

◗ David Greathouse, who with brothers John, Allen, and Teddy owned and operated Glencrest Farm in Lexington, died early Tuesday on his 63rd birthday from complications of liver cancer. Funeral services are pending.