Day at the Beach for Dayatthespa

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October 13, 2012 2:35 PM

Dayatthespa and Javier Castellano win the 29th running of the Queen Elizabeth 2 Challenge Cup, Grade 1 $400,000 at Keeneland Racecourse. October 13, 2012.

Photo: Eclipse Sportswire

Pace makes the race. Never was that axiom truer than this afternoon at Keeneland. Wily rider Javier Castellano knew that he had the lone quality speed going into the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, and the successful jockey was more than willing to take full advantage. Despite breaking a hair slow, Dayatthespa and Castellano meandered to the early lead from her outside post position and gained a clear advantage by the time the field had hit the first turn. Making things all the better for the 3-1 second choice, was the fact that she did not really need to work all that hard to gain her enviable position.

From there it was nothing more than a day at the beach for the daughter of City Zip, as she waltzed around the Keeneland turf course in pedestrian fractions of 24.52, 49.11, and 1:13.96. The other seven quality sophomore turf fillies in the field had little chance, as the New-York bred only got stronger in the final three furlongs, finishing off the big win by two unchallenged lengths in 1:48.99 over the firm turf. Centre Court finished a half-length ahead of Better Lucky for the second place prize, while the favorite Stephanie’s Kitten, could manage no better than a sixth place finish.

While the pace scenario of the QE II proved to be a key advantage for Dayatthespa, this is a filly who does need a whole lot of help to win. A winner of just 1 of 3 starts last year, including a disappointing 9th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, she now has rattled off five straight wins this year. Each of those wins has come in stakes races, and today’s win was her first try in grade 1 company. It also marked her second easy score at Keeneland, in as many tries, after an authoritative score in the Grade 3 Appalachian this spring.

For her young and talented trainer, Chad Brown, the Grade 1 score marked the most important of a seven-day turf bonanza that saw him also take graded stakes wins with a trio of juveniles in Balance the Books at Keeneland, and Noble Tune and Watsdachances at Belmont.