Welcome to Kenntucky, where today some of the best 3yo fillies come together to crown a winner in the QE 2 Challenge, 13 fillies entered the Grade 1 event, and while most look for their first Grade 1 win, there are some very experienced fillies in the race, so a great mix for the 9 furlong event, which will be run on a firm turf ground. Let\u2019s take a look at the ladies: #1 <\/SPAN>THE DARK MARK(IRE) 9\/2 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=139372<\/SPAN><\/A> 11 Races \u2013 4 Wins \u2013 365,710$ The 3yo Montjeu filly is the 9\/2 favorite with the bookies. The low odds mainly result of her last showing in the Grade 1 Demona Handicap, where she ran a 113 speed, which is the best any filly in this field has run, however it was only good for a 2nd<\/SUP> place behind Skullcrusher, who is not entered today. The Dark mark likes to come more from the end of the field, usually not trailing, but sitting behind the midpack early, and then challenging late, which sometimes results in tough losses. She had a great run at 1 mile, with a 4th<\/SUP> place in the 1000 Guines this spring, she was then found not to stay the 12f trip, and comes build up through an ALW win over 9f and the great 2nd<\/SUP> place run in the Demona. Look for her to repeat her great performance and finish at least in the Top 3. #2 <\/SPAN>NATIVE MAMBO(KY) 5\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=140664<\/SPAN><\/A> 16 Races \u2013 6 Wins \u2013 1,126,876$ Next up another low odd shot, the 3yo El prado filly is a Millionaire, and leads the field in winnings. Her Wins this year came in the Restricted Stakes at the Smackdown Festival, and a Grade 3 win over 8f here in Kenntucky in March. It\u2019s her first try over a longer distance than 1 mile, and it has to be seen, how she handles the extra furlong, her last race was a complete flop, as she finished 12th<\/SUP> in the Equinics Race early August, and was given 8 weeks off, which should do her very good. Expect Native Mambo to take the lead early, and try to keep it for good. If she can stay 9f, she has to be the top pick, however The Dark mark seems the better off the 2 at the moment. #3 CTHRAG GORU(KY) 8\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=151873<\/A><\/P> 11 Races \u2013 4 Wins \u2013 68,792$<\/P> The 3yo North Light filly is one of the more inexperienced Horses in the field, she attempts a Graded Race fort he first time, and looking at her stakes results, it may be one Stepp to high. She went on a roll when winning 3 ALWs in a row this spring, her start at Stakes races was very sucessful, when 2nd<\/SUP> in Arizona in July, but her last outing in a Stakes Race in July saw her only take a 4th<\/SUP> place over 9f, despite a lifetime high speed rating of 103. Her running style sees her a liking for stalking the pace, if there is pace, which should be guaranteed today. Looks a nice fit, but would have been better off staying in Stakes competition, so I don\u2019t see her beat the 2 top picks. #4 <\/SPAN>SOUTH OF HEAVEN(IRE) 10\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=146978<\/A> 15 Races \u2013 4 Wins \u2013 461,310$ The 3yo high Chapparal filly comes back from a lifetime high speed rating, running a 104 over 10f in Arizona finishing 2nd<\/SUP> in a Stakes Race last time out. This was finally a good performance, after some rough outings during the Summer. She had a great start into the season, highlighted by winning the Grade 1 How are you Gentlemen Cup in March. After that she was tried several times over 12f, and never produced. It has to be seen, if the recent success shows the way up, or if it was just one good race in between. She likes to run within the midpack, so the 13 horse field might make trouble. #5 <\/SPAN>MONSUN JR CB(GER) 8\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=89572<\/A> 13 Races \u2013 7 Wins \u2013 242,656$ The 3yo Monsun filly was on a great 5 race winning streak from April to July, with 3 of those wins coming on off-tracks. She will have trouble finding a cut in the firm turf today. After that winning streak she went to the Equinics but a 9th<\/SUP> place finish was not what was expected, in her last race she was at a mile again, and finished 5th<\/SUP> with an average 100 speed figure. She may enjoy the extra furlong this time, but has yet to proof she can run speeds in the 105+ area, a nice pick if we had more rain, but her near the lead style may hurt her without rain falling this week. #6 <\/SPAN>FEAR ME COMING(KY) 21\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=136820<\/A> 18 Races \u2013 4 Wins \u2013 95,760$ To make it short, the War Chant filly was 8th<\/SUP> in the 1000 Guines, comes off a 3rd<\/SUP> place in an ALW race, and her lifetime high mark over 9f is a 89, I hope I said enough to show she is way off the needed pace in todays race. #7 <\/SPAN>X MARKS THE SKUNK(JPN) 14\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=85270<\/A> 8 Races \u2013 4 Wins \u2013 147,908$ Another long shot, however the Symboli Kris S filly has shown a nice progress lately, after winning 3 ALWs in a row from march to may, she found trouble in Stakes company finishing 4th<\/SUP> in a Grade 2, followed by a 2nd<\/SUP> place in an ALW Race in Dubai. But her real eye catcher was her last race, she won an 8f Stakes Race in New Zealand, and the impressive thing was not only the 104 speed mark, but the ability to close a 7 length gap from 6th<\/SUP> place within the last 2 furlongs. She will likely have to reproduce such a feature, with even a higher speed, but anything seems possible here. #8 <\/SPAN>SINGLE WHITE PAT(KY) 9\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=134505<\/A> 16 Races \u2013 3 Wins \u2013 336,620$ The 3yo Gone West filly is another horse coming off a lifetime best mark into this race, after 15 tries she finally cracked the 100 speed mark in her 16th<\/SUP> race, with a 103 over 9.5f in a Stakes Race at Newmarket. However that performance was only good for 2nd<\/SUP> place. She had a rather average season, with lots of bad runs and her last win was in March winning a 9f Stakes race at California. She seems on a light upswing, with a 2nd<\/SUP> place in a Grade 2 in Dubai 2 back, look for her to be on or at the lead early, however, I don\u2019t see her winning a battle for the lead with Native Mambo, which may hurt her chances. #9 <\/SPAN>AMATERASU(KY) 10\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=149660<\/A> 11 Races \u2013 6 Wins \u2013 134,930$ I like the way this 3yo Awesome Again filly has been built for the race, she ran two of her best career races within her last 3 outings, winning Stakes Races at Queensland and Newmarket over trips of 7.5 and 8f, producing a 104 and a 105. If she can transfer those speed marks into this 9f trip she could be a good pick, however she likes to be in the lead, and has not proven to stay 9.5f earlier in her career. It\u2019s a difficult pick, but one that could make a huge upset, if she can perhaps stay longer then Native Mambo, but could also fail like she did in some races, when too far off the pace early.