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As the "calm before the storm" settled on Breeders' Cup preparations, Saturday's $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland provided a typically classy and wide-open diversion for weekend racing.

With many of the 11 starters appearing evenly matched for the 9-furlong turf event, Shadwell Stable's homebred, Alwajeeha got to the post at odds of more than 11-1, showing but a pair of wins for her previous eight starts. But one of those victories was in her only previous start on the Keeneland grass -- the Grade III Appalachian during the spring meeting.

She reprised that effort Saturday, stalking the pace into the second turn, then running clear on the lead to the wire, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Backseat Rhythm. My Princess Jess was third. John Velazquez, returning from an injury suffered early in the meeting, rode Alwajeeha 9 furlongs in 1:48.09.

"We really looked at the pace scenario and didn't think there was a lot of speed in the race," said Neal McLaughlin, assistant and brother to winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "She seems to run better closer to the lead and she seems to like the turf course here."

Alwajeeha is by Dixieland Band out of the Seattle Slew mare Ridaa.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 10/13/2008

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