Give her a kiss! Lush Lips takes QEII for Walsh
Keeneland stakes recap by track’s publicity team (Coady Media/Barbara Barclay photo of Lush Lips winning the QEII)
LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 11, 2025) – Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, Mrs. Paul Shanahan and Mrs. M.V. Magnier’s Lush Lips (GB) powered past pace-setting Opulent Restraint (IRE) nearing the eighth pole en route to a 1¼-length victory in the 42nd running of the $800,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana for 3-year-old fillies Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Lush Lips completed 1 1/8 miles on a turf course rated as good in 1:48.01. It is the first victory in the race for Walsh and Gaffalione.
“Surprisingly, we did (gain confidence from her runner-up finish at the QEII distance in the Aug. 16 Del Mar Oaks-G1), because that was always in the back of our minds, that maybe it was as far as she wanted to go,” Walsh said. “But I think she went against the grain, and it seems she has no problem going the mile and an eighth. It was fantastic. (Her ability to lay off the pace gives us options) without a doubt. It opens a big door for her, especially for next year, because we always thought this filly was going to be a good 4-year-old. It’s fantastic to win a Grade 1 with her.”
Opulent Restraint led the field of eight through fractions of :23.23, :47.70 and 1:12.08 with Lush Lips tracking in second 1½ lengths back. On the far turn, Lush Lips began to close in with the undefeated Laurelin (IRE) the only runner behind the top two making any headway.
Opulent Restraint maintained the advantage approaching midstretch until Lush Lips swept past and built enough cushion to hold off Laurelin, who rallied for second.
“She really did (get into rhythm from the outset),” Gaffalione said. “First I have to give credit to Brendan and his team. They’ve done a fabulous job with this filly, getting her to relax. She’s come a long way this year and really stepped it up nicely. She’s progressed great throughout the year. The race went perfectly. She broke great, put me in a good spot, relaxed beautifully, and when I asked her she really turned it on nice. It was a great performance and great for the connections.”
Making her Keeneland debut, Lush Lips is a daughter of Ten Sovereigns out of the Arcano mare Lamyaa. In notching her first graded stakes victory, Lush Lips improved her record to 10-4-4-0 and more than doubled her earnings to $769,510 with Saturday’s $387,888 check. Her wins include Churchill Downs’ Tepin Stakes.
Lush Lips rewarded her backers with payoffs of $19.22, $6.04 and $4.52. Laurelin, ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, returned $3.48 and $2.70 and finished three-quarters of a length in front of Opulent Restraint, who paid $5.26 to show under Luis Saez.
“She started in Ireland (last year) and then we brought her here, which is part of our program’s plan,” said Medallion racing manager Phillip Shelton. “She just has taken a step forward, step forward, every single time. In her last seven starts, she’s been first or second, every single one. Today was the icing on the cake. Again, we’re just very lucky.”
It was another 2¾ lengths back to favored Fionn, who was followed in order by Candy Quest, Daisy Flyer, Simmering (GB) and Destino d’Oro.
“We won a (turf) race earlier today (with Chapman’s Peak in Race 7) on the lead, and it seems that is where you need to be early,” said Brad Cox, Fionn’s trainer. “Where she was (far back), she wasn’t going to get it done from there. She’s had a long year. We’ll talk it over with the owners, but she would be OK to take a breather. We will come up with a game plan to maybe race her again in 2026.”
Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connections.
