Blond Me at Home at Keeneland

Barbara Keller’s Blond Me (Ire) (Tamayuz) drew post seven in a nine-horse field for Saturday’s GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. The sophomore filly, who will be making her second U.S. start in the nine-furlong turf event, worked five furlongs at Keeneland Monday in 1:04.80.

“I was very happy with the work,” said Leanne Masterton, who is overseeing the filly’s preparations for trainer Andrew Balding and was aboard for the move. “She had no problem with the ground at all.”

Blond Me arrived at Keeneland Sept. 24 and has settled nicely into the Lexington track, according to Masterton, who added, “She never stayed overnight anywhere when she raced at home.”

Second in the Aug. 22 G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown, Blond Me was shipped to the U.S. and was a late-closing second behind Sentiero Italia (Medaglia d’Oro) in the Sept. 12 GII Sands Point S. last time out. She’ll face that filly again Saturday after the Godolphin runner drew post nine Wednesday.