Queen Elizabeth a Top Draw

The jockey’s room at Keeneland will have a Southern California look today.

Garrett Gomez, Corey Nakatani, David Flores and Eddie Delahoussaye are in Lexington, Ky., for the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, a Grade 1 race for 3-year-old fillies at nine furlongs on the turf.

Nakatani could be sitting pretty among the local riders. He has the mount on likely favorite Voodoo Dancer, who has won six of nine. She is looking for her second consecutive victory in a Grade 1.

Trained by Christophe Clement for the Green Hills Farm, the 3-year-old Kingmambo filly won the Garden City Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Belmont Park by nearly five lengths a little over a month ago. She has won four of six this year.

Gomez will ride Golden Apples, who made an auspicious U.S. debut on Aug. 18 at Del Mar. A 21-1 longshot, she won the Del Mar Oaks in her first start for owner Gary Tanaka and trainer Ben Cecil.

Delahoussaye will ride Del Mar Oaks runner-up Affluent, whose biggest victory came against a weak field in the Hollywood Oaks, and Flores has the mount on Reine De Romance, third in the Oaks after winning the San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar.

Live You Dreams will be ridden for the first time in the Queen Elizabeth by Pat Day. Completing the field are Sweetest Thing, Light Dancer, Snow Dance, Casual Feat and Ing Ing.

Race of the day: The highlight of the Oak Tree card is the $250,000 Oak Tree Derby, a Grade 2 at 11/8 miles on the turf. The 2-1 favorite is Startac, who has been idle since his 11-1 surprise over a yielding turf course in the Secretariat, a Grade 1, on Aug. 18 at Arlington Park. Trainer Simon Bray’s reward for winning that race was the loss of Startac and the talented turf female Astra from his barn. Laura De Seroux is the new trainer for both.

Who’s hot: Shot Of Gold. The 6-year-old will seek his 22nd victory in his 43 starts when he runs in the $30,000 Caballo Del Sol Handicap today at Turf Paradise in Phoenix. Originally trained by Bob Baffert, Shot Of Gold enters on a three-race win streak for trainer David Van Winkle.

Who’s not: John Ward. The trainer who won the Kentucky Derby this year with Monarchos saw Beautiful Pleasure retired after another poor effort in last weekend’s Beldame, then had Forest Secret and Hero’s Tribute flop in their recent comebacks at Keeneland.

Exotically speaking: Exacta boxes in the fifth keying Hot Warsaw Nights with the entry of Tizmania and Lord Of Speed, Joe’s Fast Lane and Noble Kinsman.