
Power Rankings: Owen Almighty Enters Derby Top 10 after Tampa Tour de Force
For the connections of a 3-year-old turf filly looking for Grade 1 honors before the year ends, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Dixiana is the perfect spot. Aside from a $750,000 purse and Grade 1 status, the 1 1/8-mile test at Keeneland Race Course is restricted to 3-year-olds, giving the sophomore runners one more chance to stay within their division for a Grade 1 race before it’s time for them to face older females.
1. Pin Up Betty (20-1): Didn’t fire in the $1.5 million Pepsi Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational but was a good second before that in the Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes. A return to her effort in the Pucker Up would make her a contender here.
JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Mike Maker
2. Caitlinhergrtness (12-1): Beat males to win the prestigious King’s Plate at Woodbine, but that was on an all-weather surface. Won her only start on turf, though that was in an allowance race. Frankie Dettori in the saddle adds to the appeal.
JOCKEY: Frankie Dettori; TRAINER: Kevin Attard
3. She Feels Pretty (5-2): Finished second to Grayosh after a lively stretch duel in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes Presented by Caesars Sportsbook at Saratoga. Adds blinkers and should be a main contender.
JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux
4. Waves of Mischief (12-1): She was second in the Dueling Grounds Oaks and won the Pucker Up. Looks like an interesting play here, especially at the odds.
JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh
5. Soprano (7-2): A Group 3 winner in France makes her United States debut. Was third in a Group 1 stakes last time and should be a major player.
JOCKEY: Billy Loughnane; TRAINER: George Boughey
6. Oversubscribed (6-1): Is trained by five-time Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup winner Chad Brown and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., which makes her a threat. Rallied nicely to finish second in the one-mile Lake George Stakes and should relish the added ground. Deserves a very long look.
JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Chad Brown
7. Buchu (15-1): Went out West to Del Mar and finished fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Presented by Keeneland Sales despite some traffic issues. Before that was sixth in the Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational. Belongs in this field but will need an improved effort to be a main factor.
JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Phil Bauer
8. Pounce (12-1): Won the Lake George and then was checked and raced wide while finishing ninth in the Grade 2 AGS Music City Stakes. Seems capable of a bounce-back effort at a big price.
JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Mark Casse
9. Grayosh (8-1): Trained by Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, she beat She Feels Pretty in the Lake Placid. That filly is 5-2 and she’s 8-1. If that price somehow stays intact, she is a very attractive play.
JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown
10. Candala (9-2): Comes over from France after finishing third in a pair of Group 2 stakes. Did not land a great post position, but on class, she cannot be overlooked. Has been running in races longer than this, so stamina should not be a concern.
JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Francis-Henri Graffard
THE PICK: Grayosh
LIVE LONGSHOT: Caitlinhergrtness
SUPERFECTA: 9-5-3-2