After a second consecutive win, we look for a Keeneland hat trick today. Today’s race is a race for three-year-old fillies going a mile and an eighth on the turf. Ten fillies are entered in this race, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes.
Keeneland Race 8 – Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (Grade 1)
Favored in today’s race is the 3 She Feels Pretty (5/2 morning line). She is three for six lifetime and is only about a combined two lengths from a perfect six for six start. Ideally, she will not be more than a couple of lengths off of the pace but she will come from further back if that scenario plays out as well.
Candala (#10, 9/2 ML) is one of two fillies coming in from Europe for today’s race. She races last at Deauville in France finishing third over soft ground. She has never run on firm turf, so it will be interesting how she runs over today’s surface.
The other European horse is the 5 Soprano (7/2 ML) who has run on firm turf in the past. She finished third last time at Leopardstown in Ireland and back in August won on firm turf at Deauville drawning off to win. She should be closer to the pace here today.
Keep an eye on the 2 Caitlinhergrtness (12/1 ML) who defeated the boys in the King’s Plate at Woodbine near the end of August. She has won on the turf at Woodbine about six weeks prior. Don’t worry about the fact that the King’s Plate is not a graded stakes race. It’s a restricted race for Canadian bred horses and probably would be if it was not a restricted race.
Caitlinhergrtness will have to improve off of that win but there’s nothing that is telling me that it is not possible at all. She could be a sneaky pick here.
The 4 Waves of Mischief (12/1 ML) closed well to finish second in the Dueling Ground Oaks at Kentucky Downs last month. Her lone bad race was on the synthetic at Woodbine. Se will shorten up here today and will be fit and closing.
Joe’s Pick
The European horses are going to be tough here today. I’ll toss Candala because she has never run on a dry and firm turf course. Soprano showed some heart in her last race, but I am going to go with a bit of an upset here with Waves of Mischief at hopefully a nice price here.
I am calling this race 4-5-3-2 and my play is $20 to win on the 4. Best of luck everyone!
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