Brown Has Strong Trio for Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

A field of nine goes in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland (photo credit Keeneland.com)

Trainer Chad Brown sends out a trio of runners including the morning line favorite in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday.

Del Mar Oaks (G1) winner Cambier Parc is the 8-5 morning line favorite for Brown. Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez is in to ride the filly.

Brown’s other two runners are both 6-1 on the morning line—Pucker Up (G3) winner Café Americano and Lake Placid (G2) winner Regal Glory.

“You like to keep them separate, but when you get to a Grade 1, you have to give them a chance to step up,” said Whit Beckman, Brown’s assistant at Keeneland.

“We always thought a lot of Cambier Parc,” Beckman said. “She started out on dirt and then moved to turf, and she has separated herself as one of the top 3-year-old turf fillies this year.”

Castle Lady makes her U.S. debut for trainer Henri-Alex Pantall. The filly has won three of her four career starts including the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp in France on soft ground.

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The race is the last of six Grade 1 races at the Keeneland fall meeting.

Let’s head out to Keeneland for Saturday’s featured race of the day:

Keeneland

Keeneland Race 9 The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Post time 5:30 ET

9 Regal Glory 6-1

5 Castle Lady 7-2

3 Cambier Parc 8-5

6 Café Americano 6-1

Regal Glory

One of three in here sent out by Chad Brown, the filly tracked the early pace and finished gamely to end up in a deadheat with Varenka in the Lake Placid (G2) over good ground last out at Saratoga. The filly has now won five of her seven starts with a pair of seconds. This is her first test at nine furlongs, but she looks up to it and has enough pedigree, by Animal Kingdom out of a More Than Ready mare. She has handled ground with some give to it and there is some rain in the forecast overnight on Friday. She ran well in a runner up finish in the Appalachian (G2) on soft ground here in April.

Castle Lady

This filly invades the U.S. for the Pantall barn and was fifth in the Coronation Stakes (G1) ls out at Royal Ascot in June. She won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1) on soft ground at Longchamp two back at a mile. She adds Lasix and Barzalona makes the trip across the pond for the ride. She has enough pedigree to handle nine furlongs and the prospect of less than firm round suits her as well.

Cambier Parc

This Brown trainee is the 8-5 morning line favorite. The filly made a good late rally to get up and win the Del Mar Oaks (G1) last out at nine furlongs, her fourth win in seven career starts. The $1.25 million Keeneland purchase won the Wonder Again (G3) three back at nine furlongs. She has been better on firm ground, a fourth in the Edgewood (G3) at Churchill Downs on good ground in her lone trip on less than firm ground. She is a logical threat to win here for Brown who won this race last year with Rushing Fall, but her price is going to be on the light side.