10/16 (KEE): Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. (G1)
 

9th (5:23) Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. (G1)

1 1/8 Miles (Turf) | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $400,000

1 Zagora (FR) Leparoux J R 121
2 Snow Top Mountain Albarado R J 121 LA
3 Evening Jewel Espinoza V 121 L
4 Check the Label Dominguez R A 121 LA
5 Dade Babe Geroux F 121 L
6 Harmonious Rosario J 121 LA
7 Perfect Shirl Velazquez J R 121 LA
8 La Cloche Alvarado J 121 LA

How is Evening Jewel favored against Check the Label?

This is a nice race that seems to be escaping a great deal of attention.

In it you have a super consistent filly like Evening Jewel, who has done absolutely nothing wrong this year but has been the beneficiary of very favorable trips/circumstances in most of her turf starts. She walked on the lead in the Honeymoon, had nary a straw in her path in the San Clemente then got a dream run through in the DM Oaks after chasing an overmatched pacesetter. Check the Label beat up on lesser in the Sands Point with a perfect trip of her own then somehow rallied in the VA Oaks (against a poor field) despite the pace being glacial. Her Garden City was probably better than it looked as Dominguez seemed to be concerned about not getting a substantial jump on Snow Top Mountain and she wound up having to make a prolonged bid.

There's going to be pace with Dade Babe in the field and there's really no telling how fast that one will go given her propensity for running off a bit.

I've been a Check the Label fan since April and think she'll be tough to beat but this is a tough group and a fun race. Looks like many of the horses who will factor in races like the Jenny Wiley, Just a Game, Gamely, Mabee, and Diana next year are in this field.

I'll be shocked if Check the Label hits the board.

Seriously. I can make a case for others but I don't think she'll be up the track. We'll see.

Toner's horse shouldn't be 30-1 on the ML either, IMO.

How did she even get invited?

I'm not a Check the Label fan, though I agree with Nick that she moved too soon last time, but to be fair I haven't spent a lot of time looking at the race. I could be being too hasty.

There's not much in the race to be honest. And Check the Label's win over the track was pretty good. This race has seen better fields...All I will say is that I think Check the Label will beat Evening Jewel, not really a race I see making a lot of money on.

If you have to look outside I think it is Snowtop for the place (after the....without pps...obvious winner...Evening Jewel).

Zagora should make some noise here.

.....your route turf picks are solid,i have to include her on my pick 4 with jewel and zagora.

Harmonious has more talent than Evening Jewel but her mind limits her... but given anything around 5/1 she is a good play.

It would be a real shame if Harmonious lost this race and somehow wasn't voted 3YO filly of the year.

Especially after all she has done for the game.

How could she possibly cross the Rockies and win this race? Her connections are insane for making this trip considering all the great races and competition in California. I mean, shipping in California is not like the east coast.

Good call.

Thanks.

I have been very unimpressed with her ( despite my obvious East Coast bias ).

I did nothing smart. I was alive in the 8-9 double with the second place finisher. She was never close.

....yeah, i was warned....