Time to Crown a Turf Queen in QEII

A very talented group of three-year-old fillies head to post in the Grade 1 QEII going 9 furlongs on the firm turf.

Beerkeg’s Tiffany Watson (#7, 11-1) was a winner last February in the Grade 1 Vermont is 4 Lovers over 9 panels of turf. She made herself a two-time Grade 1 winner last time out in California with an upset come-from-behind score in the Dell Web Oaks. The bay filly is looking for a hat-trick of Grade 1 goodness on Saturday. She’s ultra consistent on turf having 9 top two finishes in eleven starts and she’s two for two at this distance.

Behind Tiffany in the Dell Web Oaks was Champions stable Wild Eyed Wonder (#9, 10-1). A Sea The Stars filly who was a hard charging third beaten only a quarter of a length. The Irish bred won 6 of her first 7 starts including the Grade 3 Wynn Point. She loves the 9 panel distance and earned a 111 speed badge last time out and can probably improve from it.

Mouthsofdecadence (#14, 9-1), who races for Asrstar, is already established at the top-level against her age group, having taken the Lool Oaks earlier this year on dirt. Then, after going unplaced in two very important and tough races, she rebounded to win the Grade 2 Lake Georgina. It was her first try on turf and the daughter of War Front has every reason to get better on this surface. Her 110 speed badge on grass is very respectable against this field.

Asrstar has another wonderful filly in this race. Boxing Chad (#3, 9-1) a filly by Teofilo showed promise at two but has been really dealing at three. She uses high speed and free-wheeling tactics to rip the heart out of her opponents. She hit a nice Graded Stakes double recently when winning the Grade 3 Chloe and the Grade 2 Lake Flacid. She owns a 111 speed badge but has other fillies to deal with on the front end. She makes the early dynamics of this race very interesting. It should be a fast pace and we know she wants it that way.

Xmonster has Dismounter (#13, 6-1) in top form. The very consistent bay filly by Dundeel has won 7 of 11 starts. She’s riding a three-race win streak which included a terrific front running score in the Grade 2 Jersey City over the New York turf. She’s well backed down to 6’s in this spot as the handicappers believe she’s the real deal.

Slowrollelite’s I Am In Command (#12, 16-1) scored by a three-quarters of a length three back in the Grade 2 Sandy Ring. The I Am Invincible filly tried Grade 1 company at shorter distances without making any waves. She will get to stretchout Saturday and will be trying a big late rally. Her speed figures don’t match some of the best in this spot. If she can make first run of the closers she might be able to outlast them. She does have some tactical speed so it’ll be interesting to she where she’s placed in this contest.

Only 2 of the 14 runners were bred in Kentucky, one is Cancun’s Give Me Money (#5, 11-1). She’s a bay filly by Medaglia D’oro and has run very well on dirt or turf. Lately she’s found her calling at 9 panels over turf. Winning a Stakes and last time out she closed for third behind Boxing Chad in the Grade 2 Lake Flacid. Clearly she is hoping for lots of early speed from Chad and Dismounter. If the race is kind to closers then she’s a dangerous one at good odds.

Kate has Time for Myself (#2, 11-1) in Kentucky for this tough turf test. The French bred bay filly by Pour Moi showed talent at age 2 when winning back-to-back Stakes events. The deep closer found Graded Stakes racing tough this season. But she was close to brilliant in the 1000 Guineas back in April when second. Last time out she was a closing third behind Dismounter in the Grade 2 Jersey City. She has now passed her classy dam in career earnings and still seems to be improving.   

Thebigo has Souls On Fire (#11, 10-1) a Turkish bred daughter of After Market in the QEII. With Storm Cat, Smart Strike and Mr. Prospector all prominent in her pedigree you’d think she was a strong dirt runner. She might be. Maybe we’ll find out down the road. But these connections were smart to give the grass a try and they have found gold. She ran so good they don’t have reason to look anywhere else. The 5 time winner has not looked out of place in Graded company recording three top three finishes. Including a strong stretch run to win the Grade 2 Regina Elena. Speed figures for this miss have been improving. She’ll need to keep that progession as she was defeated by a few of these fillies last time out in New York.

One of the most accomplished fillies in the field is Lawdro’s Waltz to the Stars (#10, 6-1). A multiple Graded Stakes winner who is a boom or bust type of runner. She won 4 in-a-row during the spring including scores in the Grade 3 Si Senorita and Grade 2 Celine. The brown filly by Zoustar had a lean summer until she stormed through the stretch to win the Grade 1 Bring on the Babes. She took a 111 speed badge and earned a chance to try the prestigous QEII at a distance she’s never travelled.

2Legendz has a terrific miler in Threading Needles (#1, 16-1) who will try to go an extra furlong on Saturday. How many folks, without using google know who Gerry Cooney is? I’m old enough. I have the memory of his one chance at greatness. Probably not many remember this name. What does he have to do with racing? Sounds like he paid Mike and Frank for a Caifornia Graded Stakes race. But enough about him. Threading Needles went to California and won the Grade 2 race named for Cooney. She was also good enough to win a Grade 3 race three back. This wonderful miss is the only Graded winner from the sire Fine Needle. In fact, she’s the only Stakes winner from the sire. She’s the longest price in the market and she’s not getting enough respect. She owns 7 top two finishes in her ten race career. She’s just getting started and could be sitting on a big effort Saturday.

A very consistent filly from the Jubalrutledge barn is Winds of Fire (#8, 11-1). The Dubawi filly was 3-3 at nine panels on turf before she faded in the Grade 1 Dell Web Oaks won by Tiffany Watson. She was a good second in the Grade 1 United Oaks and three back she won the Grade 2 Full Moon with a strong all the way display of toughness. She’s fast enough but will need a proper paced ride to stay away from the speed which is signed on in this spot.

Hasten At My Call (#4, 10-1) is a filly feeling very good at the moment. After a terrific Stakes score running a 111 figure. She was tasked with running in the Grade 2 Jersey City. While she couldn’t beat Dismounter she announced to the world she was an emerging talent. She tracked the front runner and was always closing the gap before running out of track. No doubt the Lope De Vega filly is showing Asrasr Stable all they need to see to give her a chance in the QEII. She adds to the very deep field and should keep them honest up front.

Wanting a breakout party in Kentucky this weekend is Letitgrow’s bay filly Autumn Zany (#6, 12-1). The daughter of The Autumn Sun was a Stakes winner four back and then ran two corkers in Graded company. She was beat just a neck by Winds of Fire in the Full Moon. You can’t ask for a better prep than what she gave last time out. On the Maryland turf over a mile she ran a 109 speed badge while finishing second to an emerging Gun Runner filly Sus. Zany is consistent and handled perfectly so far. She looks to take the next step on Saturday.