Varenka to face Brown trio in Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Final pre-race works were recorded last weekend for most of the 3-year-old turf fillies intended for the sixth and final Grade 1 race of the Keeneland fall meet, the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Saturday.

The Chad Brown trio of Cafe Americano (48.40 seconds), Cambier Parc (49.80), and Regal Glory (49.80) all were sent through half-mile breezes over the Keeneland main track last Saturday as they prepared for the 36th QE II, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for which 12 have been invited. Entries were to be drawn Wednesday.

Two other QE II fillies worked Saturday at Santa Anita prior to their scheduled flights here Tuesday from Ontario International Airport, with Mucho Unusual getting six furlongs in 1:14.20 for Tim Yakteen and Maxim Rate going five furlongs in 1:00.60 for Simon Callaghan.

Magnetic Charm, owned by Queen Elizabeth II herself, was among the turf workers here Sunday, going five furlongs in 1:02.40 with the “dogs” placed well out onto a firm course. Lady Prancealot got the same distance in 1:01.40.

Varenka, trained by Graham Motion, had her final work Friday at the Fair Hill Training Center in northern Maryland when going six furlongs in 1:13 over the Tapeta synthetic track.

The other invitees to the QE II are Carnival Colors, Castle Lady, Kelsey’s Cross, and Princesa Carolina.

Favoritism in the QE II looks up for grabs between Varenka and any of the Brown trio. Cambier Parc won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks and Cafe Americano won the Grade 3 Pucker Up in their respective last starts, while Varenka dead-heated for win with Regal Glory in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga.