Trip Notes for Oct. 13: QEII, Canadian International, E.P. Taylor

Keeneland

Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (race 9)

COMMENT: One of the favorites, Daddy Is a Legend, scratched (likely to go in the Grade 3 Valley View here Oct. 17). Despite some quality opposition, Rushing Fall was absolutely hammered in the wagering (sent off at 2-5), and the nearly unbeaten daughter of More Than Ready validated that confidence with another super performance. A winner now of six of seven (her lone loss was by just a neck), the $320,000 filly broke well from her far-outside post, moved up eagerly to grab the lead outside Fatale Bere, who was rank out of the gate, cruised to a clear lead by the clubhouse turn, remained clear while going easily to the far turn, setting a slow pace, remained clear to the top of the lane, was confronted by Mission Impassible to her outside into the lane, but rebuffed that stubborn filly all the way to the line. Trainer Chad Brown had said prior to this there would be no Breeders’ Cup for her, though she could face elders in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar on Dec. 2, but it was more likely she’d be put away to freshen up for 2019 starting in Florida (Gulfstream). Mission Impassible, coming off a fifth in a French Group 1 on July 29, stalked the pace, moved closer going to the far turn, came with a strong run outside Rushing Fall to challenge that foe but then couldn’t keep pace in the final furlong while staying on gamely to finish far clear of the rest. She’ll reportedly stay in America with trainer Rodolphe Brisset. Nyaleti, a respectable sixth in the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington against the two best older turf distaffers in the U.S. (Sistercharlie, Fourstar Crook) and back to the U.S. to face 3-year-olds only after a good fifth against some top older males in a Group 2 in England on Aug. 25, bided her time inside, moved closer down the backstretch to be just behind the eventual winner, tried to make a run into the lane, was no match for the top two, but kept on decently for third. The Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill is a possibility, though her connections said a Group 1 in Italy that same weekend may be next. Fatale Bere, the second choice after winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 18, was fractious in the gate, broke well, but was rank, pulling her way to the early lead, was finally able to be restrained a bit by her rider once Rushing Fall took the lead and moved over in front of her, seemed to finally relax some going down the backstretch as she stalked that rival, tried to make a run at the winner on the turn, wasn’t able to threaten her, was tiring when she had to steady into the lane and gave way. She is certainly capable of better. A return to her Southern California base will help, and there she can target the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita in late December.

Woodbine

Canadian International (race 9)

COMMENT: Not surprisingly, the Europeans dominated as Desert Encounter toppled fellow European and favorite Thundering Blue with a strong stretch kick. The 6-year-old son of Halling, last seen finishing third in a Group 3 in England on Sept. 22, lagged back from the start, moving to the inside right out of the gate from his outside post, as first Funtastic and then Bandua set the pace, remained well back as Bandua continued up front, ahead of only Focus Group while staying inside, started to advance going to the far turn to be just behind Thundering Blue, had to wait for room while behind that foe, moved out into the lane, came with a strong run, veered toward the inside some in the final furlong, but kept on gamely to outfinish Thundering Blue, veering into that rival’s path at the very end. The latter, Group 1-placed in England on Aug. 22 and then a Group 3 winner in Sweden last time out Sept. 23, broke a step slowly, was content to sit in midpack while staying inside, remained inside to the far turn, looked to be in a trouble when still bottled up on the rail, committed to staying inside coming into the lane, found a seam between horses, moved through smartly to grab the lead as if primed to go on to victory, but then couldn’t quite outfinish the winner to his outside. He had to steady late when the winner came over in front of him, but that was in the final strides, and the issue had already been put to bed. Focus Group, stepping up off a restricted stakes win at Saratoga on Aug. 22, lagged far back from his far-outside post to sit last, well behind the other trailers, remained at the back going down the backstretch, moved closer going to the far turn, swung wide on the far turn to commence a run, moved wider still into the lane and kept to his task decently, though he was no threat to the top two. Spring Quality, the second choice after being a Grade 1 winner at Belmont in the spring but coming off a dull run when last of seven on soft turf in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont on Sept. 29, broke well, sat in midpack between horses just to the outside of Thundering Blue, remained alongside that rival going down the backstretch, started to advance while staying wide and doing so seemingly very easily, moved up nicely outside into the lane as if poised to be a big threat, but came up empty when it mattered. This may be proof that he’s just not a 1 1/2-mile horse, at least at this level. It doesn’t appear any of these will point for the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill next month.

Woodbine

E. P. Taylor (race 10)

COMMENT: Just 20 minutes or so after Europeans dominated the Canadian International, it was more of the same here as Euro raiders ran one-two, with a former European finishing third. Sheikha Reika, a 3-year-old facing older after a smashing stakes win in England on Sept. 19, stalked in fourth as local favorite Starship Jubilee went out to a clear lead, remained there as Starship Jubilee set a dawdling pace, came off the rail some into the lane, and hit high gear once straightened away to roll past the leader and outfinish Golden Legend and Santa Monica for the win. Golden Legend, seventh in a French Group 1 on Aug. 19 and then a smart Group 3 winner (over males) here Sept. 17, got bounced around a bit at the start, established position in midpack, wasn’t far behind the eventual winner turning for home, came out into the lane to follow that rival, finished well, but couldn’t get to her. Santa Monica, the big winner of the Grade 2 Dance Smartly on this course and at this trip June 30 before a second in a Grade 2 at Saratoga on Sept. 1, broke outward to jostle some with stablemate Pollara to her immediate right, still had the speed to stalk as Starship Jubilee set the slow pace, moved closer into the lane, couldn’t finish with the top two, but was able to edge past Starship Jubilee for third. Starship Jubilee, the smashing winner of the Grade 2 Canadian here Sept. 15, went out to a clear early lead, was able to set a dawdling pace while still clear, kicked smartly for home, remained a clear leader to midstretch, but then tired a bit and couldn’t finish with the top three. Pollara, a European invader who won two of her three starts in France, including a Group 3 (ran second in her lone loss), bumped with stablemate Santa Monica at the start, sat in midpack while seemingly traveling well, but never mustered a run in the lane. The Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill next month doesn’t seem on the radar for any of these.