Lael Stables’ She Feels Pretty rocketed past Caitlinhergrtness at the three-sixteenths pole and drew off to a record-breaking 6-length victory in the 41st running of the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, who notched her first Keeneland Grade 1 victory, and ridden by John Velazquez, She Feels Pretty completed the 1⅛ miles on a firm turf course in 1:46.50. The margin of victory eclipsed the 5-length winning margin by Shantisara (IRE) in 2021 and Graceful Darby in 1987.

For Velazquez, it is his sixth victory in the race. His first came in 1995 on Perfect Arc, and he followed with Alwajeeha (2008), Crown Queen (2014), Time and Motion (2016) and Cambier Parc (2019).

Caitlinhergrtness set an uncontested pace through fractions of :23.45, :47.79 and 1:11.94 as Oversubscribed (GB) tracked in second with She Feels Pretty third. Caitlinhergrtness led the field into the stretch only to be immediately confronted by She Feels Pretty, who blew past and widened her advantage to the wire.

Soprano (IRE), who had been racing in midpack, got up to finish second in a three-way photo.

A Keeneland sales graduate, She Feels Pretty is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Karakontie (JPN) out of the More Than Ready mare Summer Sweet. 

Now a two-time Grade 1 winner, She Feels Pretty improved her record to 7-4-1-2 and increased her earnings to $948,317 with Saturday’s $435,938 check.

Favored in the field of 10, She Feels Pretty returned $5.08, $3.10 and $2.58. Soprano, ridden by Billy Loughnane, returned $3.66 and $3.14 and finished a neck in front of Caitlinhergrtness, who paid $6.48 to show under Frankie Dettori.

It was another head back to Pin Up Betty with Grayosh, Oversubscribed, Buchu, Candala (FR), Pounce and Waves of Mischief following in order.

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Racing continues Sunday with a nine-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The featured eighth race is the $350,000 Franklin (G2) for fillies and mares going 5½ furlongs on the turf. Post time for the Franklin is 4:44 p.m.