Dayatthespa puts up a brilliant show to win the QE II Challenge Cup
Jerry Frankel, Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon, and Bradley Thoroughbreds’ Dayatthespa kept her undefeated run intact for this season, and in as many starts she lacked a grade 1 win, but her wire-to-wire finish on 13 October, 2012, gave her the $400,000 QE
II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, and her first Grade 1 victory of her career and the season.
One of the leading horsemen this season, Chad Brown, trains the 3-year-old filly by City Zip, and over the 1 1/8 miles on firm going, Dayatthespa looked confident under jockey Javier Castellano, who took over from Roman Dominguez this season, and the rider
is yet lose a race with her.
Bred by Castellare Di Cracchiolo Stables in New York, Dayatthespa in partnership with Javier Castellano kicked off the season with a brilliant victory over 1 mile at Gulfstream Park in the Sweetest Chant Stakes.
She was stretched out in distance to 1 1/8 miles for the first time in her career in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes, and she responded brilliantly to come out as the victor at Gulfstream Park.
After two successful runs at South Florida’s Premier Thoroughbred race track, Dayatthespa shipped to Lexington, Kentucky to run in the Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes, Cut back to a mile, Dayatthespa had it easy over Keeneland’s turf.
Only start in Saratoga this year, Dayatthespa over a mile downed the Riskaverse Stakes.
Much accomplished field in the QE II Challenge Cup, Dayatthespa under Castellano spurted away to take the lead early and reeled the entire field through fractions of 24.52 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 49.11 seconds for half-mile.
Out of Doc’s Leader mare M’Lady Doc, Dayatthespa opened up a 1 ½ length advantage over seven other fillies. The early going was smooth, and after a lead, Dayatthespa relaxed but still went on to roll through 6 furlongs in 1 minute and 13.96 seconds.
Better Lucky was making a move after three-quarters, but Dayatthespa responded well after a mile, and went on to fend off, Centre Court, after a late rally from fourth.
Centre Court finished second, while Better Lucky closed in at third, while keeping Samitar adrift by a nose in fourth.
Dayatthespa downed 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute and 48.99 seconds. The filly was purchased in the 2010 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga sale for $50,000, and now after the QE II Challenge Cup, Dayatthespa has shot up her bankroll to $574,892.
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