Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes

This article is about the horse race in the U.S.. For other uses, see Elizabeth Cup and Elizabeth Stakes.

Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

Class	Grade I
Location	Keeneland Race Course Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated	1984
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Sponsor	Dixiana Farm (2020)
Website	Keeneland
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄8 miles
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-old fillies
Weight	121 lbs.
Purse	$800,000 (since 2025)

The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf held annually in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting.

History

The race was inaugurated on October 11, 1984, in honour of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who attended the Keeneland races, during her private visit to Central Kentucky, and who presented a trophy on that date. ^[1] The event was held on the dirt track over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles with Sintra winning in a time of 1:432⁄5. ^[1]

The following year the event was moved to the turf track. ^[2]

The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup was a Listed race in 1984 and 1985, and was upgraded to Grade III status in 1986. ^[2] The event held this status for two runnings and was upgraded to Grade II. ^[3] In 1991 was upgraded once more to Grade I. ^[3]

It is an important prep race to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Records

Time record:

• 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:45.81 – Memories of Silver (1996)
• 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:43.20 - Graceful Darby (1987)

Margins:

• 6 lengths – She Feels Pretty (2024)

Most wins by an owner

• 2 – Henryk de Kwiatkowski (1985, 1986)
• 2 – Darby Dan Farm (1988, 1990)
• 2 – Stronach Stables (1999, 2000)

Most wins by a jockey

• 4 – John R. Velazquez (1995, 2008, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2024)

Most wins by a trainer

• 5 – Chad C. Brown (2012, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
2024	She Feels Pretty	John R. Velazquez	Cherie DeVaux	Lael Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:46.50	$719,375	I	[4]
2023	Mawj (IRE)	Oisin Murphy	Saeed bin Suroor	Godolphin	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.06	$501,000	I	[5]
2022	Gina Romantica	Flavien Prat	Chad C. Brown	Peter M. Brant	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.20	$569,125	I	[6]
2021	Shantisara (IRE)	Flavien Prat	Chad C. Brown	Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables & Robert V. LaPenta	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.86	$500,000	I	[7]
2020	Harvey's Lil Goil	Martin Garcia	William I. Mott	Harvey A. Clarke (Estate) & Paul Braverman	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.72	$500,000	I	[8]
2019	Cambier Parc	John R. Velazquez	Chad C. Brown	OXO Equine	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.54	$500,000	I	[9]
2018	Rushing Fall	Javier Castellano	Chad C. Brown	e Five Racing Thoroughbreds	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.42	$500,000	I	[10]
2017	La Coronel	Jose Lezcano	Mark E. Casse	John C. Oxley	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.99	$500,000	I	[11]
2016	Time and Motion	John R. Velazquez	James J. Toner	Phillips Racing Partnership	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.24	$500,000	I	[12]
2015	Her Emmynency	Florent Geroux	Michael Stidham	Dawn & Ike Thrash	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.84	$500,000	I	[13]
2014	Crown Queen	John R. Velazquez	William I. Mott	Besilu Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.98	$500,000	I	[14]
2013	Kitten's Dumplings	Julien R. Leparoux	Michael J. Maker	Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.43	$400,000	I	[15]
2012	Dayatthespa	Javier Castellano	Chad C. Brown	Jerry & Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon & Bradley Thoroughbreds	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.99	$400,000	I	[16]
2011	Together (IRE)	Colm O'Donoghue	Aidan P. O'Brien	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.83	$400,000	I	[17]
2010	Harmonious	Joel Rosario	John Shirreffs	Martin, Pam, & Emily Wygods	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.14	$400,000	I	[18]
2009	Hot Cha Cha	James Graham	Philip A. Sims	Nelson McMakin	1+1⁄8 miles	1:53.09	$500,000	I	[19]
2008	Alwajeeha	John R. Velazquez	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Shadwell Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.09	$500,000	I	[20]
2007	Bit of Whimsy	Javier Castellano	Barclay Tagg	Joyce B. Young & Gerald McManis	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.73	$500,000	I	[21]
2006	Vacare	Carlos H. Marquez Jr.	Chris M. Block	Lothenbach Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.42	$500,000	I	[22]
2005	Sweet Talker	Rafael Bejarano	Helen Pitts-Blasi	Eliah & Lisa Kahn	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.20	$500,000	I	[23]
2004	Ticker Tape (GB)	Kent J. Desormeaux	James M. Cassidy	Jim Ford, Deron Pearson & Jack Sweesy	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.35	$500,000	I	[24]
2003	Film Maker	Edgar S. Prado	H. Graham Motion	Courtlandt Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.82	$500,000	I	[25]
2002	Riskaverse	Mark Guidry	Patrick J. Kelly	Fox Ridge Farm (Peter G. Schiff)	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.84	$500,000	I	[26]
2001	Affluent	Eddie Delahoussaye	Ron McAnally	Janis R. Whitham	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.03	$500,000	I	[27]
2000	Collect the Cash	Shane Sellers	Joe Orseno	Stronach Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.94	$500,000	I	[28]
1999	Perfect Sting	Pat Day	Joe Orseno	Stronach Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.66	$500,000	I	[29]
1998	Tenski	Richard Migliore	Linda L. Rice	Richard L. Golden	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.54	$400,000	I	[30]
1997	Ryafan	Alex O. Solis	John Gosden	Juddmonte Farms	1+1⁄8 miles	1:46.64	$400,000	I	[31]
1996	Memories of Silver	Robbie Davis	James J. Toner	Joan G. & John W. Phillips	1+1⁄8 miles	1:45.81	$400,000	I	[32]
1995	Perfect Arc	John R. Velazquez	Angel A. Penna Jr.	Brazil Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.84	$250,000	I	[33]
1994	Danish (IRE)	Julie Krone	Christophe Clement	Harry McCalmont	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.89	$200,000	I	[34]
1993	Tribulation	Jean-Luc Samyn	James J. Toner	James W. Phillips & G. Arthur Seelbinder	1+1⁄8 miles	1:53.62	$200,000	I	[35]
1992	Captive Miss	Julie Krone	Philip M. Serpe	Zeke Minassian	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.66	$200,000	I	[36]
1991	La Gueriere	Brian Dale Peck	A. Peter Perkins	Wimborne Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.86	$200,000	I	[37]
1990	Plenty of Grace	Jerry D. Bailey	John M. Veitch	Darby Dan Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.40	$100,000	II	[38]
1989	Coolawin	Jose A. Velez Jr.	Carl A. Nafzger	James B. Tafel	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.20	$100,000	II	[39]
1988	Love You by Heart	Randy Romero	John M. Veitch	Darby Dan Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.80	$100,000	II	[40]
1987	Graceful Darby	Jerry D. Bailey	John M. Veitch	James W. Phillips	1+1⁄16 miles	1:47.20	$100,000	III	[41]
1986	Lotka	Walter Guerra	Woodford C. Stephens	Henryk de Kwiatkowski	1+1⁄16 miles	1:50.00	$100,000	III	[42]
1985	Contredance	Eddie Maple	Woodford C. Stephens	Henryk de Kwiatkowski	1+1⁄16 miles	1:47.00	$85,550		[43]
1984	Sintra	Keith Allen	Steven Penrod	Cherry Valley Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.40	$106,625		[1]

Legend:
  Dirt  Turf

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links

• Ten Things You Should Know about the QEII Challenge Cup at Hello Race Fans! Archived 2012-11-07 at the Wayback Machine

References

1. Rees, Jennie (27 October 1984). "Sintra's wins Allen a hand from the queen (1984 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes – race 8: held 26 October 1984)". The Courier-Journal . p. 35. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
2. "Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. presented by Lane's End (Gr. 1)". Equibase. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
3. "QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
4. "2024 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. presented by Dixiana Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
5. "2023 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. presented by Dixiana Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
6. "2022 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. presented by Dixiana Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
7. "2021 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. presented by Dixiana Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
8. "2020 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. presented by Dixiana Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
9. "2019 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. presented by Lane's End Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
10. "2018 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. presented by Lane's End Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
11. "2017 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. presented by Lane's End Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
12. "2016 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. Presented by Lane's End Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
13. "2015 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
14. "2014 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
15. "2013 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
16. "2012 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 October 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
17. "2011 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
18. "2010 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
19. "2009 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
20. "2008 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 October 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
21. "2007 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 October 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
22. "2006 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 October 2006. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
23. "2005 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 October 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
24. "2004 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 October 2004. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
25. "2003 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 11 October 2003. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
26. "2002 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 12 October 2002. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
27. "2001 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 13 October 2001. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
28. "2000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 October 2000. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
29. "1999 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 9 October 1999. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
30. "1998 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 October 1998. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
31. "1997 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 October 1997. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
32. "1996 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 5 October 1996. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
33. "1995 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 21 October 1995. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
34. "1994 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 October 1994. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
35. "1993 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 30 October 1993. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
36. "1992 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 24 October 1992. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
37. "1991 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 October 1991. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
38. Berry, Jack (21 October 1990). "Tough as nails' Plenty of Grace nabs Queen Elizabeth by a neck (1990 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes – race 8: held 20 October 1990)". The Courier-Journal . p. 18. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
39. Koerner, Dave (29 October 1989). "Coolawin shoos off trainer's 'duck' with victory in Queen Elizabeth II (1989 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes – race 8: held 28 October 1989)". The Courier-Journal . p. 22. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
40. Berry, Jack (30 October 1988). "Love You by Heart puts in a royal effort to win Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1988 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes – race 8: held 29 October 1988)". The Courier-Journal . p. 22. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
41. Rees, Jennie (18 October 1987). "Graceful Darby wins by 5 at Keeneland (1987 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes – race 8: held 17 October 1987)". The Courier-Journal . p. 21. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
42. Cushing, Rick (26 October 1986). "Mark one up for Woody as Lotka wins Challenge Cup (1986 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes – race 8: held 25 October 1986)". The Courier-Journal . p. 21. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
43. Rees, Jennie (27 October 1985). "An inside move benefits Contredance (1985 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes – race 8: held 26 October 1985)". The Courier-Journal . p. 58. Retrieved 19 September 2020.