Path to Win Won’t Be Parade for Ticker Tape

Ticker Tape will go for another victory on the road when she takes on six other 3-year-old fillies today in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

Ticker Tape, whose biggest victory came in the American Oaks on July 3 at Hollywood Park, left California and won the Pucker Up last month at Arlington Park.

A winner of six of 16 lifetime, Ticker Tape will be looking for her second Grade I victory against a quality group in the 1 1/8 -mile race over the Keeneland lawn.

Her opponents, from the inside out, are Mambo Slew, River Belle, Barancella, Island Sand, Phantom Wind and Humorous Miss.

Phantom Wind will be making her first start in the U.S. after winning two of six in England and Ireland. A daughter of Storm Cat out of the stakes-winning mare Ryafan, Phantom Wind will be ridden by Jerry Bailey.

Mambo Slew has beaten Ticker Tape before, handling her twice in the Miesque at Hollywood Park and the Blue Norther at Santa Anita.

Race of the day: Stage Player, who has won seven of his last eight, is the 5-2 favorite against nine opponents in the $175,000 California Cup Mile today at Santa Anita.

The grassy Mile is one of 10 races on the 15th Cal Cup program.

The other highlights are the $250,000 Classic, which features defending champion Tizbud, and the $150,000 Matron, topped by Yearly Report, Summer Wind Dancer and Dream Of Summer.

One for the road: Noble Place gets a confident boost in class by trainer Steve Asmussen in today’s ninth at Keeneland. Claimed for $18,000 by Asmussen for owner Ro Parra on the day (Aug. 12) she won for the fourth time in 11 starts, the 4-year-old Out Of Place filly shows up in an allowance race today. Calvin Borel will ride in the 6 1/2 -furlong contest.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Forward March in the second, Yearly Report and Dream Of Summer in the third and Top Money, Tizmanian Devil and Lucky J.H. in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/50. Money: Previous day/meet total: $23.80/$286.30. Total money bet: $240.