Cambier Parc leads Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup list
Three fillies trained by Chad Brown are among 12 3-year-olds invited to next Saturday’s 36th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. The race will be contested at 1 1/8 miles on the Keeneland turf course
Headlining the Brown invitees is OXO Equine’s Cambier Parc, winner of the Del Mar Oaks (G1) in her most recent start and also a two-time Grade 3 winner this year. Brown, who won this race last year with Rushing Fall and in 2012 with Dayatthespa, also has Paul Pompa Jr.'s Regal Glory and Peter Brant’s Café Americano among the invitees.
Regal Glory, second in Keeneland's Appalachian (G2) last spring, has compiled a 7: 5-2-0 mark and in her past two starts won the Lake George (G3) and dead-heated for the win in the Lake Placid (G2) at Saratoga. Café Americano, a winner of three of four starts, won the Pucker Up (G3) at Arlington in her most recent start.
The other Grade/Group 1 winner among the invitees is Godolphin's Castle Lady. Trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, Castle Lady has won three of four starts, including the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in May at Longchamp in France.
Also invading from Europe is Her Majesty, The Queen's Magnetic Charm. Trained by William Haggas, Magnetic Charm came to Keeneland from Woodbine, where she finished second in the Canadian Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2) on Sept. 14.
Entries for the QE II will be taken next Wednesday. Here's a closer look at the invited fillies.