Ticker Tape wins QE II Challenge Cup

Desormeaux rides horse past River Belle down stretch

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By Marty McGee

updated 5:44 p.m. ET Oct. 16, 2004

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Ticker Tape surged past River Belle in the stretch and held off Barancella by a half-length in Saturday’s Grade 1 $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

Ticker Tape, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, covered the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:51.35 in the race for 3-year-old fillies and paid $5.40, $2.80 and $2.40.

Bobby Frankel-trained Barancella returned $3 and $2.80, and River Belle paid $3.20 to show.

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Trainer James Cassidy said Ticker Tape would skip the Breeders’ Cup and next race in the Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park. Ticker Tape won the Grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park earlier this year.

Ticker Tape won for the seventh time in 17 starts, and the $310,000 she earned Saturday boosted her career earnings to $1,207,426 for owners Jim Ford, Daron Pearson and Jack Sweesy.