For Gaviola, the loss ends a six-race winning streak the gray daughter of Cozzene began in February at Gulfstream Park. "We were able to make an easy lead and I thought she was doing it comfortably," jockey Robbie Davis said of Gaviola. "She seemed to be getting everything her own way. She just didn't finish today. I really don't know why. We'll take her back home, check her out a little bit and see if we can come up with a reason." (Chart, Equibase)
Stronach Stable and Elfreida Stronach's Collect the Cash tracked 4-5 favorite Gaviola through moderate fractions before taking the lead in mid-stretch to win the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (gr. IT) by 3/4 lengths Sunday at Keeneland. Gaviola faded along the inside in the stretch to finish sixth as longshots filled the exacta. Collect the Cash was ridden by Shane Sellers and completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.94 over firm turf. Sent off at 25-1, Collect the Cash paid $52.20, $17.80, and $18.20. The exacta -- completed by Blue Moon, also a 25-1 longshot -- returned $1,334.80. 6-1 Theoretically was third, followed by Princess Ellen, Mauricienne, Gaviola, Zoftig, Elderberry, and Uncharted Haven.Collect the Cash began her racing career in December, and earned her first win in January at the Fair Grounds while trained by Malcom Pierce. She was switched to Joe Orseno's barn and finished second -- beaten by a 1/2 length -- in her debut for her new conditioner. Since then the 3-year-old has won the $25,000 Rockingham Park Oaks and two Saratoga allowance races, all on turf. She earned $310,000 for the win, her fifth in 11 career races. Collect the Cash (Dynaformer--Worldly Possession, by Valid Appeal) was bred in Kentucky by Frank Stronach.