She Feels Pretty winning the Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico. (Anika Miskar/Past The Wire)
In Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented By Dixiana
Buchu Brings “Home-Field Advantage” To QE II Challenge Cup
Keeneland Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.—Because Lael Stables’ She Feels Pretty is less than a length away from a perfect campaign in 2024, her connections hope an equipment change will lead to success in Saturday’s $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana.
Third as the favorite in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Santa Anita, She Feels Pretty opened her campaign in May with a 5¾-length victory in the Hilltop at Pimlico during Preakness Weekend.
“That was a great place to get started back and she was much the best that day,” said David Carroll, assistant to trainer Cherie DeVaux. “We just gave her the time to mature after the Breeders’ Cup.”
In her next two races, She Feels Pretty was caught late in the stretch and finished third beaten three-quarters of a length in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) and then was beaten a neck by QE II rival Grayosh in the Lake Placid (G2).
“We just feel like she has been waiting on horses,” Carroll said. “We like what we have seen from her in the morning (with blinkers) and hopefully it will translate to the afternoon.”
Buchu Brings “Home-Field Advantage” To Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented By Dixiana
Rigney Racing’s homebred Buchu has not spent a lot of time at Keeneland, but when she does, she makes the most of it.
“We are going to do the same thing we’ve done the past two times and that is ship over the morning of the race,” trainer Phil Bauer said Thursday morning from his main base at Churchill Downs. “I know we don’t train there, but it is almost like a home-field advantage for her and it works well.”
Buchu will come to Keeneland Saturday for the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana in her bid to remain undefeated at the track. She won the Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland November last fall and opened her 2024 campaign with a victory in the Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association.
Saturday’s race will mark the first start for Buchu since the Del Mar Oaks (G1) on Aug. 17 in which she finished fourth in a field of eight.
“We felt like the East Coast horses were maybe a little better (than the West Coast horses),” Bauer said. “In the nominations, it looked like there was plenty of speed and then there was not. She was a victim of circumstance, something we couldn’t control.”
Buchu received a little time off after returning from Del Mar and has had three works since.
“She’s doing well, and we freshened her after Del Mar,” Bauer said. “(The Queen Elizabeth II) was our target all year. It’s a lofty goal, but she’s not that far off (from the top fillies). Maybe we could pick up the pieces with some early speed in there.”
GALLOPING OUT … … ….. ……….
Siena Farm and WinStar Farm’s Mullikin, undefeated in four races this year including the Forego (G1) and the John A. Nerud (G2), worked 5 furlongs in :59.60 Thursday morning over a fast track as he continued preparations for an expected start in the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Trainer Rodolphe Brissetsaid Mullikin would ship to California Oct. 28.
Prospective Fields For Upcoming Stakes
$350,000 LEXUS RAVEN RUN (G2) (Entries taken Saturday; race Saturday, Oct. 19) – Emery (trainer Brad Cox), Haulin Ice (Saffie Joseph Jr.) Legadema (Phil Bauer), Mink’s Palace (Eddie Kenneally), My Mane Squeeze (Mike Maker), V V’s Dream (Kenny McPeek). Possible: Cap Classique (Brittany Russell), Fibber (Chris Hartman).
$300,000 PERRYVILLE (G3) (Entries taken Saturday; race Saturday, Oct. 19) – Book’em Danno (Derek Ryan), Epic Ride (John Ennis), Illuminate (Todd Pletcher), Justifreak (Kenneally), Locked (Pletcher), Patriot Spirit (Michael Campbell), West Saratoga (Larry Demeritte).
$300,000 ROOD & RIDDLE DOWAGER (G3) (Entries taken Sunday; race Sunday, Oct. 20) – Anatolian (Maker), Chop Chop (Cox), Forever After All (Brendan Walsh), Let’sbefrankbaby (AUS) (Mark Casse). Possible: Neecie Marie (Butch Reid), Surprisingly (Pletcher).
