Lush Lips changes target and will point toward the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
The G1 winner will bypass the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) to face distaffers exclusively, joined by stablemate Expensive Queen. Connections also announced that Title Role will be saved for the Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— Brendan Walsh finalized his plans for the Breeders' Cup and made a significant decision regarding Lush Lips. The outstanding Dixiana Farms filly, who had been under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), will ultimately line up in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) over 1,900 meters, a feature boasting a $2 million purse this coming Saturday at Keeneland.
The move avoids a clash against male rivals, though it introduces a stamina query, as Lush Lips has raced primarily over shorter distances. “She is going to run in the Filly & Mare Turf. She won the Queen Elizabeth II here over 1,800 meters last year, and I don't think that extra 100 meters will be an issue. She should be able to get it,” Walsh explained.
The trainer acknowledged that the Mile appeared to be a tougher spot, though the potential presence of Blue Bolt (Blue Point) in the Filly & Mare Turf hardly simplifies the outlook.
“The Mile looks like a tougher race, though now all signs point to Blue Bolt running against the fillies. She will also have to prove she can handle the distance,” he noted.
Lush Lips, a daughter of the British-born sprinter Ten Sovereigns, owns six victories in 14 career starts and was acquired for $3,700,000 at last year’s Keeneland November sale.
Her relationship with the Kentucky oval is particularly strong. It was there in October 2025 that she captured the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), one of the signature triumphs of her career.
She subsequently capped that season with a victory in the Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs and opened her 2026 campaign by taking the Honey Fox Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
However, her two most recent starts yielded narrow defeats, both after appearing poised for victory.
She finished second in the Ellis Park Turf Stakes (L) and filled the same spot in the First Lady Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, where an unexpected hesitation late in the lane cost her the win.
“We’ve already won a Group 1 on this track and probably should have won another in our last start,” Walsh pointed out.
“I don’t know what caught her eye, but she backed off a bit. Tyler Gaffalione told me she was green for about ten strides. The positive takeaway is that prior to that, she displayed a really serious turn of foot,” he added.
The conditioner retains immense faith in her capability: “She is an extraordinary filly with tremendous talent. I thought we were going to have a massive season, but she suffered an injury and it took longer than expected to get her back.Considering everything she went through, I think she can be very competitive here,” he stated.
Walsh also ruled out any equipment changes: Lush Lips will not re-add blinkers, and Gaffalione will retain the mount.
The trainer's second entry will be Expensive Queen, with Luis Saez booked to ride. The daughter of Lope de Vegaarrives with strong credentials at Keeneland, where she dead-heated for victory with Segesta (Ghostzapper) in the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1) in April.
She subsequently finished sixth in the First Lady, but Walsh believes the added distance of the Filly & Mare Turfwill play heavily to her favor.
“She is going to love going farther, and I think she can adapt to any track conditions, even if it rains. She has already proven she likes Keeneland by winning a Group 1 here,” he explained.
Expensive Queen is a full sister to Antonia De Vega, a high-class stayer who won the 2020 Princess Royal Stakes (G3) over Alpinista (Frankel), the eventual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) heroine.
That pedigree gives Walsh plenty of encouragement, particularly since Expensive Queen has yet to race beyond 1,800 meters.
The filly began her career in England, first under the care of Kevin Ryan and later James Tate, prior to her relocation to the United States.
Since joining Walsh's barn, she has won three of her five starts, including the Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes (L) at Fair Grounds and the aforementioned Jenny Wiley.
“She enters quite fresh, as this will be only her second start since April. I think she will be in ideal shape,” the trainer assured.
Title Role Wait-and-See for Del Mar
Walsh also confirmed that Title Role, another contender under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Mile, will bypass the event.
The Belmont Derby (G1) winner, coming off a third-place finish in the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) over the same Keeneland course, will target the Hollywood Derby (G1) on November 28 at Del Mar.
“He will not run in the Mile. We think the Hollywood Derby will be a good race for him. He is a horse with a big future for next year,” he explained.
With plans locked in, Walsh will center his Saturday ambitions on the Filly & Mare Turf, where he fields two Group 1-winning fillies with proven form at Keeneland.
Lush Lips brings natural speed and acceleration; Expensive Queen offers the promise of improvement stretching out in distance. Two distinct profiles with a single goal: delivering their trainer another top-level victory on the Breeders' Cup stage.
