Sentiero Italia in peak form for Queen Elizabeth II
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Typically, their battleground is New York, but dangle a Grade 1 and $500,000 out there, and the big-time trainers will make sure to divert their attention to Kentucky on any given autumn Saturday.
Kiaran McLaughlin, Graham Motion, Todd Pletcher, and Chad Brown all have contenders in the sixth and final Grade 1 of the Keeneland fall meet, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, and they’ll reprise their familiar rivalries Saturday before another happy crowd of race-goers in the Bluegrass State.
McLaughlin appears to hold the strongest hand with Sentiero Italia, the 6-5 program favorite. If not for a defeat at the hands of Lady Eli in the Belmont Oaks in July, the Godolphin homebred filly would be unbeaten over the last six months. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has won four races in that span – most recently a pair of Grade 2 races in New York – and established herself as a force in the national 3-year-old filly turf division.
“She really is doing great,” said McLaughlin, who is scheduled to arrive here early Saturday afternoon. “We love our chances.”
Joel Rosario has the mount back on Sentiero Italia, who will break from the outside post in a field of nine in the 1 1/8-mile race.
Motion, who tied with Pletcher for training honors here last fall with eight wins apiece, will be represented in the 32nd running of the Queen Elizabeth II by Miss Temple City (post 3, Drayden Van Dyke), a consistent filly who will be treated with the diuretic Lasix for the first time.
“On occasions, she’s had trace amounts of blood when we had her scoped, so I feel it’s only fair to run her on Lasix,” said Motion. “This wasn’t my original plan to run in the QE II, but I feel she deserves to be in there. It’s a great opportunity to run in a Grade 1 and most likely will be her last start of the year.”
For their parts, Pletcher will saddle the speedy Feathered (post 8, Javier Castellano), and Brown will send forth the German-bred Olorda (post 6, Irad Ortiz Jr.).
Of the others, Prize Exhibit (post 2, Silvio Gonzalez) looks the most capable when shipping in from California for veteran trainer Jim Cassidy.
The Queen Elizabeth II has been an occasional stepping-stone toward the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, although none of these fillies is yet confirmed for the 1 3/16-mile race to be run here Oct. 31.
The Queen Elizabeth II was first run in 1984, when Queen Elizabeth II actually was on hand as a guest of Will Farish and Ted Bassett. Firm turf appears likely for this renewal, even with a high chance of showers in this area Friday. The Saturday forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid-60s.
A solid undercard includes two allowances (races 6 and 8). First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the Queen Elizabeth II set for 5:30.
Key contenders
Sentiero Italia (Last 3 Beyers: 98-95-92)
* Sensational last-out score in the Grade 2 Sands Point accentuates the peak form she has reached for Godolphin and McLaughlin. The outer post shouldn’t pose a problem since the long run to the first turn and her handy speed should afford Rosario a comfortable go.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Sentiero Italia. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 16-0-1-3 over the past five years in graded stakes at Keeneland, 6-0-0-1 with Godolphin runners in those races. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Miss Temple City (Last 3 Beyers: 89-92-90)
* Tactically versatile, this Bob Feld-bred filly has been there or thereabouts in some important dances over the last calendar year. With the young Van Dyke playing things by ear, she figures to be in a good spot when the real running starts.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Miss Temple City. Trainer Graham Motion is 16-2-4-2 with a $1.52 ROI over the past five years with horses getting Lasix for the first time in turf routes following a layoff of less than 45 days. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Prize Exhibit (Last 3 Beyers: 89-90-93)
* Hard charging and honest, this British-bred actually was the favorite against older fillies when settling for the runner-up spot in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon five weeks ago at Del Mar and would stand to benefit from a fast pace here.
Feathered (Last 3 Beyers: 90-90-95)
* Eclipse Thoroughbred filly is set to assume the customary role of pacesetter in a race lacking a preponderance of early speed. She looked terrific in wiring the Grade 3 Edgewood on the Kentucky Oaks undercard in her most recent Kentucky appearance.
Olorda (Last Beyer: 77)
* What would a Grade 1 turf race on this side of the Mississippi be without Brown? This filly has the look of a real sleeper with first-time Lasix and blinkers off after being forwardly placed in her stateside debut in the Belmont Oaks.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Olorda. Trainer Chad Brown is 12-7-1-1 with a $4.68 ROI over the past five years removing blinkers in turf routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan