Her debut win was impressive enough to earn the 'TDN Rising Star' designation, but it was at Keeneland that e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) served notice that she was the real deal, scoring a powerful victory in the GIII Jessamine S. last fall to serve as prelude to her GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroics. She'll return to the Bluegrass looking for her second Grade I success as the heavy favorite in Saturday's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at the Lexington oval.
Getting the winter off after her Del Mar triumph, the $320,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate returned with a victory in the GII Appalachian S. here Apr. 8 before running a tough-luck neck second in the GIII Edgewood S. May 4 at Churchill. Seen only once since then, it was nevertheless a strong reminder of her ability when notching a 2 3/4-length tally in the GII Lake Placid S. Aug. 18 at Saratoga.
Nyaleti (Ire) (Arch) makes her second cross-Atlantic journey in two months as the second choice on the morning line. Romping in the G2 WEMPE German 1000 Guineas May 27 at Dusseldorf, the gray was fourth in the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. July 13 at Newmarket and ran a good sixth in the GI Beverly D. S. Aug. 11 at Arlington. Shipping back to Europe immediately after, she was fifth in the G2 Ladbrokes Celebration Mile S. two weeks later at Goodwood. Given a respite since then, she figures to be sitting on her 'A' race for her Stateside return.
Europe will also be represented by Mission Impassible (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The chestnut, third in the G1 Total Prix Marcel Boussac as a juvenile, captured the G2 Prix de Sandringham June 3 at Chantilly and was last seen finishing fifth in the G1 Prix Rothschild July 29 at Deauville.
Two American-based Grade I winners rate outside chances. Team Valor International's Capla Temptress (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire]) conquered the GI Natalma S. last summer at Woodbine, she's been unable to find the mark in her next five starts, most recently running seventh in the GII Sands Point S. Sept. 15 at Belmont. Fatale Bere (Fr) (Pedro the Great) comes in with better form, notching a career-high in a mild upset of the GI Del Mar Oaks last our Aug. 18 at Del Mar.
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