Harvey's Lil Goil Returns to Churchill Downs After Victory in Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana

Harvey’s Lil Goil, who held off Micheline by three-quarters of a length to win Saturday’s $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana, returned to Churchill Downs last night.

At Churchill, Penny Gardner, assistant to trainer Bill Mott, said the filly was fine this morning.

“It is fun having those types of horses in the barn,” Gardner said of Harvey’s Lil Goil, who is owned by the Estate of Harvey Clarke and Paul Braverman. “She tries so hard every time.”

Plans for Harvey’s Lil Goil are to be determined.

Godolphin’s Micheline and her portable stall remain at Keeneland to await the filly’s next road trip. Trainer Mike Stidham said her next race has yet to be decided but her next destination will be his division at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.

“We were delighted with her effort in the QE II and with a little more distance (beyond the 1 1/8 miles), she might have won,” Stidham said. “We were really excited about her stepping up to a Grade 1 race and running as well as she did.”

Micheline gained attention because of her unusual accommodations of open-air housing: a portable structure that has four wood-lined farm gates and a fitted tarp ceiling. Described as claustrophobic in a traditional stall, Micheline has thrived throughout her career in the special setup.

Stidham said that despite the filly’s aversion to living in a barn, she is extremely comfortable traveling via a large commercial horse van with her companion horse, Colonel. 

“It’s amazing,” Stidham said. “She’s good in the van. Maybe it is the movement that keeps her preoccupied. She travels in a box stall where everything is open so she doesn’t feel caged in.”

Trainer Arnaud Delacour reported that Lael Stables’ third-place finisher Magic Attitude (GB) came out of the race fine.

“Those were two good fillies that beat her,” Delacour said. “Running third in a Grade 1 is not bad. I thought she ran well but maybe was a little flat. I was concerned about the three weeks (between her victory in the Belmont Oaks Invitational-G1 and the QE II). She did not have the same kick.”

Delacour indicated Magic Attitude was probably done racing for the year.

“She had four straight Grade 1 races and those are tough races,” Delacour said. “I think she is done for the year. We will give her a couple months off and plan for next year. It would be great to come back here for the (Coolmore) Jenny Wiley (G1, during the Spring Meet).”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Red Lark (IRE), who closed from last to finish fourth beaten less than 2 lengths, is scheduled to return to California on Monday.

“She seems good this morning,” trainer Paddy Gallagher said. “We will get her home and make a plan.”