Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (Grade 1) Preview

Racing Dudes Picks

Win –#8 Dayatthespa

Exacta – 7/8 boxed

Trifecta –8/7 with 8/7 with ALL

Horses to use in Vertical Wagers – 1,4,5,7,8

Race Shape

Speed –Dayatthespa

Stalkers – Better Lucky, Centre Court, Stephanie’s Kitten, Samitar

Closers –Tannery, Treasured Up, Samali Lemonade

Racing Dudes Projected Order of Finish

#8 Dayatthespa (NY) – This horse comes in on a four race win streak, but make no mistake about it…this one will be her toughest challenge of the year!  The field is loaded with solid three-year old turfers, but Dayatthespa has some advantages over the rest of the field.  The biggest factor swinging her way could be the lack of speed in the race.  She’s not a “need the lead” type horse, but in this race I think she’ll find herself on the lead by perhaps a length or two.  If the rest of the fields allows that to happen, then they are in big trouble.  She also has the excellent training of Chad Brown on her side.  Brown is coming off a monster weekend, and could parlay those winnings in here.

#7 Samitar (GB) – Also trained by Chad Brown is Samitar.  Samitar is coming off gutty win in the Grade 1 Garden City Stakes, where she stalked the pace, and just held off Somali Lemonade to win by a head.  I would expect her to get a similar type of trip in this one, as once again there seems to be a lack of early speed.  She’s a horse that has only ran two races in the United States, so I think she will continue to improve.

#5 Stephanie’s Kitten (KY) – Can you ever leave out a Kitten horse owned by the Ramsey’s at Keeneland?  No way you can, especially one as classy as this filly.  Stephanie’s Kitten is coming off a big win in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga, where she defeated three fellow runners that are going in this one: Centre Court, Somali Lemonade, and Better Lucky.  Much like Samitar, I like that Stephanie’s Kitten has enough early speed to stay within reach of the leaders in this one.  In a paceless type race that is important.

#4 Centre Court (KY) – Centre Court was going into her last race on a three race winning streak, but Stephanie’s Kitten was better than her by a half-length in the Lake Placid.  Not only is she capable of getting revenge on her in this one, but she also has a shot to win the whole thing.  This is a race that is extremely evenly matched, so really nobody would be a surprise in this spot.  Also, just like the first three horses I’ve mentioned, I like the fact the Centre Court can show some early speed.  She will probably be Dayatthespa’s biggest competition for the lead.

#1 Better Lucky (KY) – Here is another one you better not sleep on.  Better Lucky has been extremely competitive in every race she’s ran, and has finished a nose ahead of my second place horse just two races back.  The only reason I have her ranked below the top four is her average performance last time out.  She’s one to watch though, and the price might be right.

#2 Tannery (IRE) – This one is a real wild card basically because she’s only had one start in the United States, and it was a pretty solid third to Samitar.  Sometimes European horses improve with their second effort over seas, and if she does she can win this race.  Very interesting horse with a price that should be nice.

#6 Somali Lemonade (KY) – She always runs a solid race, I just question whether she’s good enough to win the whole thing.  An on the board finish is possible with her best race though, so if you are playing exotics I would give her a hard look.  She’s too consistent to totally toss out.

#3 Treasured Up (KY) – There is nothing wrong with Treasured Up, but she’s out-classed in this one.  She’s failed to hit the board in three out of four stakes races, and this one is by far the toughest she’s ever ran in.  It’s a lot to ask of her…