Late entries Sistas Stroll, Speed Seeker add to Queen Elizabeth II

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The late entries Sistas Stroll and Speed Seeker are among the nine 3-year-old fillies set to clash Saturday in the sixth and last Grade 1 race of the Keeneland fall meet, the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

Three of the original 10 fillies invited to the Queen Elizabeth II were withdrawn this week, including the likely favorite, Euro Charline. That led Keeneland racing officials to extend invitations to Sistas Stroll, winner of the Grade 3 Pucker Up at Arlington Park in her last start, and Speed Seeker, winner of the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen at Woodbine in her latest.

“I am so excited,” said Joan Scott, who trains Speed Seeker, a Florida-bred daughter of Heatseeker. “We came here hoping to get in.”

From the hedge, this is the lineup for the 31st Queen Elizabeth II, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles on turf: Sistas Stroll, Minorette, Speed Seeker, Aurelia’s Belle, Personal Diary, Ball Dancing, Sea Queen, Crown Queen, and Daring Dancer.

The Queen Elizabeth II lost Euro Charline, winner of the Beverly D. Stakes over older fillies and mares, when Team Valor International announced Monday she has been sidelined with possible bone bruising in a hind leg. Another invitee, My Conquestadory, has been retired, while trainer Chad Brown chose not to send Xcellence from New York with his other two Queen Elizabeth II starters, Minorette and Ball Dancing. The Brown fillies arrived here Tuesday evening.

The Queen Elizabeth II is the ninth of 10 races on a Saturday card that also includes three allowances (races 6, 7, and 8). First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the Queen Elizabeth II going at 5:13 p.m.

Many fans can be expected to arrive here late, given the University of Kentucky football game at nearby Commonwealth Stadium will kick off at noon.