Tam Tam led all the way to capture the Queen Elizabeth II and secure her second G1 victory
The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro validated her victory in the Del Mar Oaks at Keeneland, defeating Faithful Departedby 2 1/2 lengths. Junior Alvarado dictated terms at will throughout, while the favorite Luster disappointed to finish eighth
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— Tam Tam had already conquered California, and now she has made Kentucky her own as well. The Rigney Racing filly confirmed she is in peak form by leading all the way to capture the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1), contested this Saturday over 1800 meters on the turf at Keeneland, securing her second consecutive victory at the highest level.
The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, trained by Phil Bauer and ridden by Junior Alvarado, was entering off a triumph in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) on August 22. This time she changed venue and strategy, but not the outcome: she grabbed the lead from the break, controlled the terms throughout, and ultimately defeated Faithful Departed (Yoshida) by 2 1/2 lengths, with the French-trained Braida (Mehmas) finishing third.
The race, restricted exclusively to 3-year-old fillies with a purse of $732,188, drew a high-caliber field of ten. Among them was Luster, the Canadian King's Plate winner, who arrived as the favorite following her spectacular victory against male rivals at Woodbine.
However, Tam Tam left no room for surprises. As the field settled after the start, John Velazquez opted to restrain Luster (Knicks Go) to position her in her customary stalking spot. Alvarado capitalized on the opportunity, immediately putting his mount out in front.
The leader set fractions of 23.55 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.81 for the half-mile, and 1:12.88 for the three-quarters—fairly demanding splits for an 1800-meter turf race over good ground. Yet the striking aspect was the ease with which Tam Tam maintained that rhythm, constantly holding a margin of at least a length and a half.
“The way she was moving, I thought we were going the half in 49 seconds,” commented Alvarado, surprised by the comfort his partner conveyed. That effortless stride ultimately proved decisive.
As Luster began to fade and head toward a disappointing eighth-place finish, Faithful Departed emerged as the sole opponent capable of mounting a serious challenge.
The daughter of Yoshida, trained by Grant Forster, had tracked the action from third and made her move under José Ortiz as the race reached its decisive stage. Turning for home at the mile mark, she ranged into second, a length and a half behind Tam Tam, and appeared poised to close the gap.
Nevertheless, the front-runner had plenty left in reserve. Alvarado asked her for a final effort, and the filly responded with another burst of speed, drawing away steadily to cross the wire 2 1/2 lengths clear. The final time was 1:49.91, returning $10.54 for every $2 wagered as the third choice in the betting. Faithful Departed held second, while Braida, sent over from France by Francis-Henri Graffard, completed the trifecta a length behind the runner-up.
The outcome also served as redemption for Tam Tam, as Faithful Departed had previously defeated her in May during the Regret Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. This time, the pace dynamics and the winner's dominance allowed no room for debate.
A Special Victory for Phil Bauer
The score held special significance for Phil Bauer, who is primarily based at Churchill Downs in Louisville and secured his maiden G1 victory at Keeneland.
Although he had already celebrated with Tam Tam at Del Mar, the trainer considered this victory even more emotional due to his and owner Richard Rigney's strong ties to Kentucky.
“You think you can't top the feeling of winning a G1, but this even tops Del Mar,” Bauer acknowledged.
The trainer admitted he had approached the race with supreme confidence. “All week we were joking that we were walking around the barn like roosters with our chests puffed out,” he shared.
His optimism was backed by the development of a filly who had established remarkable consistency and now proved her ability to win in different ways.
At Del Mar, she had stalked the pace closely before dominating in the stretch. At Keeneland, by contrast, she took the initiative from the start and never allowed her rivals close enough to threaten.
Tam Tam's trajectory is also linked to a major investment by Rigney Racing. Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, she was purchased for $975,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
She is a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, Darley's distinguished stallion who was retired from stud duty in 2025, out of Princess Julia, a daughter of Distorted Humor.
Her maternal line boasts an exceptionally valuable pedigree marker: Princess Julia is out of Folklore (Tiznow), the 2005 American Champion 2-Year-Old Filly.
Tam Tam became the first stakes winner among the three racing offspring produced by Princess Julia.
Richard Rigney expressed special gratitude to John Moynihan, bloodstock advisor for Stonestreet, for his role in breeding the filly.
“I was telling John today: ‘Thank you so much. We wouldn't be here without you.’ And, of course, he replied that it's a total team effort,” the owner recounted. With her latest triumph, Tam Tam elevated her record to 5 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds from 10 career starts, pushing her bankroll to $1,084,738.
Her trainer, far from believing she has reached her ceiling, anticipates even further growth: “I truly believe she is going to keep getting better and better,” Bauer affirmed.
The decisive nature of her victory at Keeneland offers every reason to think so. After capturing the Del Mar Oaks and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, Tam Tam has established herself among the elite force of 3-year-old turf fillies in the United States.
And she did so while displaying a crucial quality: she can adapt to any pace, race off the speed or set it, and retain a decisive turn of foot when asked.
Two consecutive G1 victories, at two different tracks and with contrasting tactical setups, stand as the ultimate confirmation of her class.
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