The Darby Dan program is making Grade 1 headlines this month, as undefeated 2-year-old Winter Memories preps for the Breeders’ Cup, while her 3-year-old half sister La Cloche tackles today’s $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland.

La Cloche will be attempting to emulate her famous mother, triple Grade 1 winner and millionaire Memories of Silver, who won the Q.E. II Challenge in 1996. Like both Winter Memories and La Cloche, Memories of Silver was bred, foaled, and raised at Darby Dan, and raced for her breeders, the family of Darby Dan owner John Phillips.

La Cloche is a bay filly by Horse of the Year Ghostzapper. On September 6, she defeated eight other fillies when second in the Pucker Up S. (G3) over 1 1/16 miles at Arlington. Today’s Q.E. II Challenge is at 1 1/8 miles, and La Cloche should appreciate the added distance. In four starts this year, La Cloche has two wins and a second, including victories at 1 3/16 miles over the lawn at Saratoga, and at 1 1/16 over the grass at Belmont. This will be her first Grade 1 attempt.

Click Here to read a feature story of Winter Memories on www.breederscup360.com