Lush Lips Reigns Supreme in Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland
Given the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Dixiana (G1T) is named after Great Britain’s late monarch, it’s only fitting that British-bred Lush Lips won the 2025 edition. The very first running of the race was in 1984 at Keeneland, where Her Majesty awarded the winner with a trophy. Forty-one years later, Lush Lips broke alertly on the rail, tucked back neatly in second up the backstretch; in the stretch, she rallied to take the lead, managing to outlast a closing Laurelin by 1 ¼ lengths. Lush Lips’ sire is British sprint specialist Ten Sovereigns, a son of No Nay Never. A global superstar of a stallion, No Nay Never is also the sire of one of Tropical Racing’s latest yearling acquisitions.
Steve Asmussen Reaches 11,000 Wins with a Family Touch at Remington Park
Hall of Famer trainer Steve Asmussen experienced a tremendous milestone this week. On Oct. 11, Asmussen earned his 11,000th career victory as a trainer. The win was extra-special, because the Remington Park victory came with Asmussen’s son Erik aboard. Asmussen has now won more races in North America than any other trainer, including superstars like Gun Runner and Rachel Alexandra.
Final Score Strikes Again in Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2T)
Back at Keeneland, on Oct. 5, a royally-bred filly registered her second graded stakes victory, taking the Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2T). Two-year-old Final Score is a daughter of Not This Time—currently ranked second on the sire list to Into Mischief by progeny earnings for 2025. Her dam is a full sister to the dam of an Into Mischief colt who sold for $3 million at this summer’s Saratoga Sale.
Desvio Powers Home Late to Win the Sycamore Stakes (G2T)
On Oct. 10, Desvio captured the Sycamore Stakes (G2T), named for the iconic sycamore tree at the track. The son of Yoshida closed hard down the middle of the stretch to eke out a half-length triumph; the long-striding gelding finished the one-and-a-half-mile race in a very good 2:29.16. If Desvio’s female family looks familiar, that may be because his second dam, Marylebone, took the 2003 Matron Stakes (G1).
Les Reys Returns to Form with Victory in Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3)
Up in Ontario on Oct. 11, French-bred Les Reys won Woodbine’s Ontario Fashion Stakes Presented by Tanqueray (G3). A trainee for Miguel Clement, Les Reys made the move from her favored surface, turf, to the synthetic track, and delivered, defeating stablemate Gal in a Rush in the race. Prior to this stakes competition, Les Reys last posted a victory more than a year ago, winning the De La Rose Stakes (named for the 1981 champion turf filly or mare) at Belmont at The Big A. This refers to the fall Belmont Park meet being held at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York, due to Belmont, located on Long Island, being under construction.
Into Mischief Filly Love Cervere Earns First Graded Win at Belmont at The Big A
Also at Belmont at The Big A, Clement’s stable had another big win on the same day. This came courtesy of Love Cervere, who earned her first graded stakes triumph in the Glen Cove Stakes (G3T). The juvenile filly was one of two horses trailing the field early in the race, then delivered a furious closing kick in the stretch to win in a fashion more mature than her young age might suggest. She’s a daughter of Into Mischief, the nation’s top sire by progeny earnings this year (whose runners include the Kentucky Derby [G1] winner!). Love Cervere was bred by Edward and Beverly Seltzer—longtime owners and breeders who dispersed their stock in 2024—and races for the Seltzers and Reeve Thoroughbred Racing.
