Gaviola, with jockey Jerry Bailey aboard, captures the Garden City Breeders Cup Handicap at Belmont Park.
The connections of Gaviola have accepted an invitation to enter the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) at Keeneland on Oct. 8 and the filly is now considered a likely starter in the 1 1/8-mile turf race, according to Keeneland. In her most recent start, Twilite Farms' Gaviola earned her sixth consecutive win in the $250,000 Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IT) at Belmont Park, winning by three lengths."She's is a grade I winner and we're delighted that they are making plans to run in the Queen Elizabeth II," said Howard Battle, Keeneland's racing secretary. "She's the kind of horse we want in this race."Gaviola (Cozzene--Forest Key, by Green Forest) was bred by Carlos Perez, and is undefeated since finishing third in the Sweetest Chant Stakes (gr. IIIT) while making her 2000 racing debut. The 3-year-old filly is trained by William H. Turner Jr.Others sophomore fillies considered possible for the race are No Matter What, Theoretically, Uncharted Haven, Princess Ellen, High Walden, Elderberry, Iftiraaf, Blue Moon, and Zoftig.Last year's renewal of the Queen Elizabeth II was won by Stronach Stable's Perfect Sting.
