NEWS
Dreaming of Anna takes center stage in Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup
Posted: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 6:02 PM
DREAMING OF ANNA
Four Footed Fotos
by Mike Curry
Champion Dreaming of Anna figures to draw attention from racing fans at Keeneland Race Course on Saturday for the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1).
Based on her current form, the Rahy filly most likely will garner plenty of interest from bettors as well in the 1 1/8-mile race for three-year-old fillies.
Dreaming of Anna, who capped an undefeated juvenile season with a 1 1/2-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on November 4 at Churchill Downs, totes a three-race unbeaten streak into the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.
After failing to win in each of her first three starts this season, including a sixth-place finish on a muddy track in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 4 at Churchill, Dreaming of Anna returned to the winner’s circle with a 1 1/4-length win in the Double Delta Stakes on yielding turf at Arlington Park on June 2.
Trained by Wayne Catalano for owner-breeder Frank Calabrese, Dreaming of Anna followed with a half-length win in the Virginia Oaks on July 21 at Colonial Downs and enters off a 4 1/4-length romp in the Pucker Up Stakes (G3) on September 8 at Arlington in her most-impressive performance this year.
Dreaming of Anna will need to be at her best in the Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup Stakes, which drew nine fillies, including six other group or graded stakes winners.
French Group 1 winner Coquerelle (Ire) will attempt to rebound from the only defeat of her career as she enters off a disappointing 12th-place finish in the Prix de Diane Hermes (Fr-G1) (French Oaks) on June 10 at Chantilly.
Prior to the French Oaks defeat, the bay Zamindar filly won each of her four previous starts, including a victory in the Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Fr-G1) on May 20 at Longchamp, for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget and owner Ecurie des Monceaux.
Sharp Susan won the Lake Placid Stakes (G2) on August 17 at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Bill Mott and owners IEAH Stables and WinStar Farm. The Touch Gold filly enters off a third-place finish in the Garden City Stakes (G1) on September 8 at Belmont Park.
Grade 3 winner Bit of Whimsy was second in the Garden City and Grade 2 winner Street Sounds finished eighth. Good Mood (Ire) won the Regret Stakes on June 16 at Churchill and enters off an unplaced finish in the Lake George Stakes (G3) on July 27 at Saratoga.
German Group 3 winner Touch My Soul (Fr) enters off a runner-up finish to Dreaming of Anna in the Pucker Up in her North American debut.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor
The field, in post position order, with horse (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:
1. Bit of Whimsy (Distorted Humor), Javier Castellano, 121, Barclay Tagg;
2. Good Mood [IRE] (Danehill Dancer [IRE]), Julien R. Leparoux, 121, Patrick L. Biancone;
3. Street Sounds (Street Cry [IRE]), Robby Albarado, 121, Michael R. Matz;
4. Classic Neel (El Corredor), Calvin H. Borel, 121, Kiaran P. McLaughlin;
5. Touch My Soul [FR] (Tiger Hill [IRE]), Rene R. Douglas, 121, Dale L. Romans;
6. Coquerelle [IRE] (Zamindar), Christophe P. Lemaire, 121, Jean-Claude Rouget;
7. Dreaming of Anna (Rahy), Garrett K. Gomez, 121, Wayne M. Catalano;
8. Costume [GB] (Danehill), Rafael Bejarano, 121, Robert J. Frankel; and
9. Sharp Susan (Touch Gold), Kent J. Desormeaux, 121, William I. Mott.
