Affluent (9) gets a neck in front of Golden Apples to win the QEII Challenge Cup.
Janis R. Whitham's homebred Affluent rallied on the outside and overtook Golden Apples to post a neck victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) at Keeneland Racecourse. Ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, Affluent completed the 1 1/8 miles over a yielding turf course in 1:50.The victory by the Ron McAnally-trained filly avenged her second-place finish to Golden Apples in the Del Mar Oaks (gr. I). Golden Apples had defeated Affluent by a head at 23-1 odds in the Del Mar Oaks.Affluent paid $14.20, $5.60, and $3.80. Golden Apples was worth $5.00 and $4.00, as Snow Dancer, the early pacesetter, held on for third and paid $4.20. The rest of the order of finish was Casual Feet, Ing Ing, Reine de Romance, Voodoo Dancer (17-10 favorite) Live Your Dream, Sweetest Thing, and Light Dancer.A 3-year-old daughter of Affirmed produced from Trinity Place (Strawberry Road), Affluent is a grand-daughter of the great racemare Bayakoa, a champion trained by McAnally. Affluent has won four of 10 starts, with her previous best a victory in the Hollywood Oaks (gr. II).Considering the two-week interval between the QEII and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, McAnally said it was unlikely Affluent would run on the World Thoroughbred Championship card at Belmont park on Oct. 27."It was a nice win," said Southern California-based Delahoussaye. "I don't travel out of town very often, but Ron (McAnally) is a great client. She (Affluent) runs better from behind and we got that pace scenario today. She tried real hard."Delahoussaye also won the $84,825 Franklin Stakes, a supporting feature on the nine-race program, with Anstu Stables' Deeliteful Irving. Silver Spear finished second, a nose behind the winner and a neck in front of Wudantunoit in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds. The final time over a yielding turf course was 1:38.39 on Deeliteful Irving paid $5.40 as the 17-10 favorite.(Chart, Equibase)
