Keeneland's QE II could set up as Del Mar Oaks rematch

DEL MAR, Calif. – The three fillies separated by a nose and a neck at the finish of Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks may meet again in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 14.

Race winner Dream Dancing prevailed by a nose over Beau Recall, who was a neck in front of Madam Dancealot in a furious finish in a field of 12.

Mark Casse, who trains Dream Dancing for John Oxley, said late Saturday he would look strongly at the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth, which is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies.

Dream Dancing rallied wide in the $302,415 Del Mar Oaks to lead at the wire at the expense of Beau Recall, who led in deep stretch. The narrow finish briefly fooled Simon Callaghan, the trainer of Beau Recall.

“It was a tough head bob,” Callaghan said. “I thought she got beat watching it live. Watching the replay, I thought she won.”

Beau Recall and Madam Dancealot are owned by the Slam Dunk Racing partnership. Richard Baltas trains Madam Dancealot, who closed from last in the final half-mile to just miss as the 7-2 favorite.

Baltas said he was frustrated jockey Jamie Theriot chose an inside path in the stretch of the Del Mar Oaks, at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

“He went up the rail and I told him to go outside,” Baltas said.

As for the Queen Elizabeth, Madam Dancealot will be a logical contender in what would be her richest race of the year.

“I’ll take a shot there,” Baltas said.