On Leave possible for Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

ELMONT, N.Y. – On Leave, the front-running 2 3/4-length winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Sands Point here, is “penciled in” to make her next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 15, trainer Shug McGaughey said Monday.

“I’m going to watch,” McGaughey said. “If I don’t like everything I see or I think it’s too close, then I just won’t run.”

On Leave won her fourth consecutive race in the Sands Point, running 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.82 and earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

McGaughey said that if he doesn’t run On Leave in the Queen Elizabeth, he probably would stop on her and point to a 2017 campaign.

“I think she’ll be a lot better as a 4-year-old,” he said.

Ironicus, the 5-year-old half-brother to On Leave, continues to make progress toward a likely start in the Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 8. On Sunday, Ironicus breezed four furlongs in 48.88 seconds over the Belmont main track. It was his fourth breeze since resuming training following a splint-bone injury that sidelined him for most of the summer.

“He breezed really good,” McGaughey said. “I think all is good with him.”