La Coronel in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keenland
  Above: Mark Casse trains La Coronel
International Race Fan

La Coronel in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keenland

The two market leaders, New Money Honey and Uni have been done no favours being drawn out widest of all in stalls 10 and 11. The wide draw may not be such a handicap for Uni, who likes to come off the pace but it could cause problems for New Money Honey who likes to race up with the pace and she is also returning off a 7 week break. Uni just caught La Coronel in final strides of the grade 2 Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park 4 weeks ago; but there are reasons to think she can reverse form this time around.

La Coronel has yet to win above grade 3 level, but she has run some decent races in defeat. Her best performances, and in terms of ratings have come here at Keenland, winning both starts easily by 3.5 and 4 lengths. She has twice finished in front of New Money Honey and has just a neck to make up with Uni on her last run when she was conceding 2lbs to that rival.

If New Money Honey wasn’t coming in to this race on the back of a 7 week break and had a better draw then she would appeal as the winner at 100/30. She is 4 from 6 on Turf and the winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile fillies and the Belmont Oaks.

La Coronel has drawn stall 6, which should allow her to get a forward position with New Money Honey facing a tough task to get to the lead from stall 11. Besides New Money Honey and La Coronel there doesn’t seem to be a lot of pace on so they could get an easy time upfront. La Coronel finished 5th in the Coronation Stakes at Ascot which was a decent performance though she struggled next time out at Saratoga but her performance behind Uni was a big improvement and she looks to be peaking at the right time. La Coronel is currently available at a best priced 6/1 which is a fair enough in a wide open race in which her affinity for the track could make all the difference.

Recommended Bet
La Coronel, 6/1 Paddy Power / Betfair