Expert Selections for Saturday’s Prestigious QE II Challenge Cup

This upcoming Saturday offers an exhilarating lineup, especially for fans of three-year-old fillies. The race card showcases the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack and the much-anticipated Grade 1 QE II Challenge Cup at Keeneland Race Course. With the Breeders’ Cup Championships looming in three weeks at Santa Anita Park, these races are pivotal in assessing potential champions.

Sands Point Stakes Highlights:

With a course length of 1 1/8 miles on turf, the Sands Point Stakes offers a $200,000 prize purse. All eyes will be on Leave No Trace, entering the race with an impressive 6.21 rating from Horse Racing Nation. This contender is trained by Philip Serpe and will be steered by jockey Jose Lescano.

QE II Challenge Cup – Keeneland Race Course, Saturday, Oct. 14:

This star-studded race covers 1 1/8 miles on turf, with a whopping prize purse of $600,000. Out of 13 entries, our expert predictions for the top three positions are as follows:

Win: Elusive Princess

Having secured victory in the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks on Aug. 4, this French-based three-year-old filly carries momentum into this race. With a pedigree that boasts Martinborough and Elusive Quality mare Elusive Action, she’s bred for turf races exceeding a mile. Trained by Jean-Philippe Dubois and jockeyed by Flavien Prat, Elusive Princess promises to shine from gate No. 2. Her HRN rating of 4.79 suggests she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Place: Elounda Queen

A French racing prodigy, Elounda Queen clinched first place in the Grade 3 Prix de Lieurey at Deauville La Touques earlier this year. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden by jockey Luis Saez, she’s poised to impress from gate No. 8. Matching Elusive Princess, her HRN rating stands at a strong 4.79, hinting at a close contest.

Show: Be Your Best

Competing from gate No. 5, Be Your Best has showcased her talents in prominent races, including a notable second-place finish in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. Her recent performances on turf races extending over a mile predict a strong run in the upcoming Challenge Cup. Under the tutelage of trainer Horacio DePaz and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., this filly is geared up to leave a mark.

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