Keeneland: She Feels Pretty adds blinkers for Grade 1

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 Grade 1, $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

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 5 3/4-length victory in the Hilltop at Pimlico during Preakness Stakes 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 Queen Elizabeth 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.”