Lush Lips Seals Win in QE II Challenge Cup 2025

On Saturday, Lush Lips (GB) thrilled onlookers with an astonishing showing when she took the top spot in the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup 2025 for three-year-old fillies at Keeneland. To win both the prize and the top position, she was beyond beaten a very strong line-up of runners.

It was a mile and an eighth on the grass with eight starters. Restrict led at a strong pace through the early stages, holding on to the lead at the halfway point and into the straight. Running steadily in second, Lush Lips was not out of the fight and when she pressed her move left Restraint behind and won in great style.

As the field entered the far turn, Lush Lips closed steadily. Nearing the eighth pole, she surged past Opulent Restraint and held on to win by 1¼ lengths over Laurelin (IRE) in second, with Opulent Restraint finishing third.

She covered the distance in 1:48.01 on a turf course rated good in Challenge Cup 2025 .

As a result of besting the competition, Brendan Walsh the trainer and Tyler Gaffalione the jockey were able to have their first taste of success in the well-known race.

Her first win at Grade I level came as Lush Lips took over the lead, bringing up her record to ten races with four victories, four second positions, and no third places.

The filly’s prize money is elevated to $769,510 following the runner of $387,888 to win Challenge Cup 2025.

The owners, Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, Mrs. Paul Shanahan, and Mrs. M.V. Magnier, have thus moved into the limelight after supporting her through the difficult times of this season’s graded stakes.

Veteran exercise rider Roger Horgan expressed relief, citing past disappointments in this race: “This has been a jinx race for me,” he said, reflecting on earlier runner-up and third-place efforts with other connections in previous runnings.

Walsh’s aide, Paul Madden, conveyed the possibility of Lush Lips going to Turfway Park midweek as part of her next trip with the aim of getting off on a good foot.

Earlier this season with Lush Lips under his care, Tyler Gaffalione said that the filly had developed a nice maturity. He described the filly as being sharp out of the rail, having a comfortable energy behind the pace setter, and ‘coming back very well’ when making his move.

Walsh echoed that sentiment, saying the progression over the season, physical development, stretching out over distance, and composure, paid off and see it in horse racing results.

Walsh acknowledged that a fast turnaround for the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar is unlikely, citing the cup of such a short recovery plus a 1 3/8-mile distance.

He and the connections will evaluate Lush Lips’ path forward.

Saturday’s race day was a great example of the growing power of turf racing, with several significant races running not only on the grass but also Woodbine’s all-weather track.

Lush Lips was very steady over the last six runs in Challenge Cup 2025, coming closely behind top-class fillies in several graded stakes, such as the Del Mar Oaks (G1), and generally showing good shape during the season.

She broke out of the pack in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup 2025 and this performance will be remembered as the key moment of her three-year-old campaign that can see the horse racing result with everyone.