Rush Lips, one of many nation’s high finishers all through her 3-year-old season, had but to attain her signature win till issues modified when her year-long effort culminated with an attention-grabbing victory within the Dixiana coach’s $665,300 Queen Elizabeth II Problem Cup Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 11.
Rush Lips coach Brendan Walsh and his staff are arduous at work getting ready for the beginning of the Keeneland competitors. Over the October 3-5 Fall Stars weekend, jockey Walsh claimed 5 wins and two prized stakes, together with the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, ridden by Jin Gin, and the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes offered by Keeneland Gross sales, ridden by Creativeness Serradi.
“It was wonderful,” stated Jockey Walsh, who was within the New Stakes winner’s circle at Keeneland for the third time. “As everyone knows, this can be a large match. Being primarily based in Kentucky, it is nice to have the ability to do that. It is all credit score to my staff. They work arduous all 12 months lengthy, and to have the ability to host this on the finish of the 12 months is a tribute to them greater than something.”
The daughter of stallion Ten Sovereigns was despatched off as fourth alternative on the tote board and paid $19.22 to win.
British-bred Rushlips raced in his first two races in Eire earlier than transferring to the Walsh secure within the fall of his two-year-old season. After ending ninth in her American debut, she has by no means completed exterior the bracket in her final seven begins. The QEII Cup win elevated her lifetime earnings to $769,510.
Rushlips’ first two stakes makes an attempt this spring resulted in a runner-up end to Nitrogen, a number one contender for Eclipse’s honor as champion 3-year-old filly. Free of that nemesis, she received the Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs by 3 3/4 lengths, then headed west and put in a valiant effort to complete second within the G1 Del Mar Oaks, offered by Keeneland Gross sales, on Aug. 16, a half-length behind Velocity.
Successful jockey Tyler Gaffalione rode Rushlips earlier this season. Since getting again within the saddle for the Delmar Oaks, he has observed an enormous enchancment.
“She’s rising up,” Gaffalione stated. “She’s way more assured in herself and her talents. She’s grown. She appears nice. I am actually completely satisfied together with her progress.”
That maturity was precisely what she wanted at QEII, and Gaffalione carried out the plan she had laid out with Walsh the evening earlier than. Leaping out of rail place, Gaffalione established a stalking place simply behind pacesetter Opulent Restraint. Gaffalione chased occasions of 23.23 seconds, 47.70 seconds and 1:12.08, pushing previous Opulent Restraint as he approached the eighth pole.
After half a mile, undefeated Laurelyn, who had a two-length lead over Rushlips, gained momentum within the straight line, however Rushlips was too energetic. She accomplished the 1 1/8 mile in 1:48.01 on arduous grass, ending with a 1 1/4 size lead. Laurelyn took second place and Opulent Restraint took third place. Fionn, a well-liked horse with 3 wins and a pair of losses, got here shut from the again and completed in 4th place.
“Every little thing went properly,” Gaffalione stated. “She jumped out of there properly and acquired an excellent place behind the leaders. She was completely relaxed. She was actually good after I requested her. Credit score to Brendan and his staff, they did an excellent job together with her. She has progressed all year long and realized to calm down, and she or he actually put all of it collectively right here.”
Walsh echoed Gaffalione’s reward of how the filly progressed all through the season.
“This can be a fruits of all the things that is occurred this previous 12 months,” Walsh stated. “She was way more relaxed and was doing very well. She settled in nice at the moment. She’s getting stronger. Bodily, you may see she’s getting stronger. Every little thing is coming collectively very well.”
The remainder of Rushlips’ season continues to be up within the air, however it’s unlikely to incorporate a three-week schedule for the Nov. 1 Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar. Along with the fast return, jockey Walsh famous that the Breeders’ Cup distance of 1 3/8 miles may be just a little too lengthy.
The win did not appear to come back as a shock to anybody within the massive and completely satisfied group within the winner’s circle, representing house owners Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, Mrs. Paul Shanahan and Susan Magnier. However officers, particularly Medallion Racing racing supervisor Phillip Shelton, are in no hurry to complete savoring the expertise of a Grade 1 win at Keeneland.
“If I stated, ‘Choose any race that the partnership can win,’ it might be right here at Keeneland,” Shelton stated. “[Credit]goes to Brendan, his staff and the filly. She has a lot coronary heart and we’re so fortunate.”
