Looking to Have a ‘Ball’ in the QE II
The last 25 winners of the prestigious GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland have been sent out to victory by 23 different trainers, with only Jimmy Toner (Tribulation, 1993 and Memories of Silver, 1996) and Joe Orseno (Perfect Sting, 1999 and Collect the Cash, 2000) having saddled multiple winners. Three of the nine conditioners represented in this year’s renewal can add their names to that list, including Chad Brown, who has two very live chances over what is expected to be a soft turf course.
William S. Farish and F. Steve Mooney’s Ball Dancing (Exchange Rate) put together an impressive streak of five races while trained in France by Pia Brandt for MD Bloodstock Limited, winning two of those while never competing at a distance shorter than 9 1/2 furlongs. Winner of the Listed Prix de la Seine at Longchamp in May, the $55,000 Keeneland January bargain was runner-up in the G3 Prix du Royaumont at Chantilly June 1 and gave an outstanding account of herself when fifth, beaten under two lengths, by theretofore unbeaten Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Fr}). Acquired privately following that test, Ball Dancing was an overlaid 5-1 chance in her U.S. debut in the GII Sands Point S. at Belmont Sept. 13, behind favored GI Belmont Oaks runner-up Sea Queen (Lemon Drop Kid), Xcellence (Fr) (Champs Elysees {GB})–behind whom she finished a half-length in the Diane–and Daring Dancer (Empire Maker). Held up near the tail while covering Xcellence, she got first run on that one and looked like the winner at the eighth pole. Her stablemate poked her head in front, but Ball Dancing dug in and prevailed.
Brown, who won this event in 2012 with recent GI First Lady S. victress Dayatthespa (City Zip), also has Belmont Oaks winner Minorette (Smart Strike), a maiden winner and stakes-placed in four Irish appearances for Aidan O’Brien. The 3/4-sister to Master of Hounds (Kingmambo) was most recently an excuse-free last of four behind TDN Rising Star Crown Queen (Smart Strike) in the GII Lake Placid S. at Saratoga Aug. 16.
“They both look terrific,” the former Bobby Frankel assistant commented. “They’ve been training well at Belmont. “They shipped in great, and we’re looking forward to running both of them in this race.”
Crown Queen, a half-sister to fellow Rising Star and three-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta (Empire Maker), is perfect in three tries this term, having posted an impressive four-length allowance score at the Spa July 20 ahead of her half-length tally in the Lake Placid. The two fillies have some things in common, according to assitant trainer Rodolphe Brisset.
“Physically, totally different,” said Brisset, who was also Royal Delta’s exercise rider. “But I get a lot of similarities when galloping [Crown Queen]; covering a lot of ground, long stride. Crown Queen is more like [her dam] Delta Princess (A.P. Indy). Her mother was not easy to be around.”
Sea Queen goes out for the Christophe Clement barn, successful here 20 years ago with 11-1 upsetter Danish (Ire) (Danehill). She exits a third in the Lake Placid, while Daring Dancer, whose trainer Graham Motion sent out Film Maker (Dynaformer) to score in the 2003 QE II, was game in taking the GII Lake George S. July 23 at Saratoga, but was a well-beaten sixth in the Sands Point last time out. The Sagamore runner annexed this track’s GIII Appalachian S. earlier this spring.