By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) Twitter: @J_Keelerman
The second-weekend feature race of the Keeneland fall encounter is Saturday’s renewal of the $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), an annual 1/8-mile turf inspection attracts some of the finest three-year-old grasses in the country.
Certainly the 2022 version has become strong. Out of the seven participants there were five ranked winners or group stakes, led by #6 McKulick. Frankel’s half-British daughter hasn’t missed out on third place in seven starts and has proven her worth against tough competition in six consecutive rankings.
McKulick scored his exceptional win in the summer 1/4 mile Belmont Oaks (G1) race at Belmont Park, rallying strongly from midfield to beat the next Saratoga Oaks (G3) winner. ) With the Moonlight with 1/4 length. The game was reversed when McKulick finished second at 1/3/16 mile Saratoga Oaks, but McKulick was right back in the last 1/8 Jockey Club Oaks (G3) recently in Belmont at Big A, rallying with the determination to prevail by half the length.
Coach Chad Brown has won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup four times, including three of the last four, so McKulick thinks there will be a lot of support from betting. The presence of three-time Eclipse Award-winning racer Irad Ortiz adds to the appeal.
But here’s the thing: McKulick did his best job running 1 1/4 miles and beyond. She’s lost in four race starts 1 3/16 miles or less, so dropping to 1 1/8 mile for Queen Elizabeth II is at least a question mark.
That’s why I was tempted to side with another Brown intern, #2 Gina Romantica. At first glance, Gina Romantica seems unappealing as she is one of only two participants without a rating to earn her credit. But Into Mischief’s daughter is improving and may well exceed expectations.
Gina Romantica started her career with two wins in four starts. Starting from the lead track only makes sense considering Gina Romantica is a half-brother to Santa Anita’s Gift Box winner H. (G1) and Prioress S.’s Stonetastic heroine (G2). But Gina Romantica missed the trio in two attempts to stake in the dirt and seems to have hit the ceiling for her potential on the surface.
The good news is, Gina Romantica thrived as she moved onto the field for the mile-long Riskaverse S. in Saratoga, kicking off a strong rally to get to her feet and beat the next Pebbles S winner. (G3) is Faith in Humanity with a ratio of 1 1/4 in length.
Gina Romantica also scrambled Pebbles and ran a deft race in defeat. Racing extensively and going slow as Faith in Humanity took the easy lead through fractions: 24.13, :49.55 and 1:13.65, Gina Romantica had every reason to go short down the house. people. But either way, Gina Romantica almost got the job done, running the last 1/4 mile in approx: 22.30 to rally and finish in second place half way.
In the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, Gina Romantica still served jockey Flavien Prat, a 25% grass-court winner. The field doesn’t have a lot of speed on paper, but if Gina Romantica makes a ground-saving trip from the second post, the acceleration she shows in Pebbles could put her on the line. Hunt for victory down to the people’s house.
In addition to the Chad Brown interns, we must respect the opportunity of #7 Paris Peacock. The consistent pretty-Irish girl appeared in her last two games to start at Gowran Park in Ireland, breaking her maidenhood in Hurry Harriet S. 1 3/16 miles before. back to win Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies & Mares S. (G3) over the same distance. Coach Jessica Harrington seemed to have a talent and good progress in her cage, so Paris Peacock came upstream for an even stronger performance in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.
We would also like to thank #1 California Angel as a live long photograph. California Chrome’s daughter opened a massive rally to win Jessamine S. (G2) at Keeneland as a teenager, and she recently returned from a six-month break to finish third in the race. The Dueling Grounds Oaks is 1/5/16 mile long through complex European-style turf at the Kentucky Downs. If California Angel moves forward while heading back to Keeneland for a second start from her layoff, she could fight for a spot in the top three.
Option:
First: Gina Romantica
Monday: McKulick
Tuesday: Peacock Paris
Now it’s your turn! Who do you like in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup?
*****
Want to test your beating skills against other Unlock Winners readers? Test Unlock the Winner contest page—There’s a new challenge every week! (Please note: older entries can be found here.)
J. Keeler Johnson (also known as “Keelerman”) is a writer, cinematographer, voice actor, amputee, and horse racing enthusiast. A huge fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager the greatest racehorse ever made in America, but considers the Zenyatta his all-time favorite.
