Winter Memories Heads Star-Studded Field of Eight for Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 12, 2011) - The Phillips Racing Partnership's Winter Memories, a spectacular last-to-first winner of the Garden City Stakes(G1) in her most recent start, headlines a field of eight 3-year-old fillies entered Wednesday for Saturday's 28th running of the $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.

Trained by two-time QE II winner James Toner, Winter Memories is one of three Grade 1 winners in the field for the race that will go as the ninth race on Saturday's 10-race card with a 5:45 p.m. (ET) post time.

Javier Castellano, who rode Bit of Whimsy to victory in the 2007 QE II, has the mount on Winter Memories who will break from post position three.

Other Grade 1 winners in the field are Team Valor International's Summer Soiree and Eric Kronfeld's Nereid.

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Trained by Graham Motion, who won this race in 2003 with Film Maker, Summer Soiree won the Del Mar Oaks in his most recent start. Ramon Dominguez has the mount on Summer Soiree, who will break from post position eight.

Nereid, trained by John Shirreffs, won the American Oaks at Hollywood Park in July and in her most recent start was a fast-closing third behind Summer Soiree in the Del Mar Oaks. Regular rider Joe Talamo has the mount on Nereid who will break from post position five.

The field for the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, from the inside out, is as follows: Star Billing (Victor Espinoza), Together (IRE) (Colm O'Donoghue), Winter Memories (Castellano), Marketing Mix (Garrett Gomez), Nereid (Talamo), More Than Real (Corey Nakatani), Kathmanblu (Julkien Leparoux), Summer Soiree (Dominguez). All starters will carry 121 pounds.