The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes may be a Grade 1 turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies run at Keeneland, but even with the Breeders’ Cup set for the Lexington track this year it’s unlikely the top finishers on Saturday will move on to the World Championship.

Just three weeks rest and the prospect of facing older fillies and mares from around the globe probably will convince the connections to look past the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and point toward other fall/winter targets or a 4-year-old campaign. Nevertheless, the glitter of Grade 1 laurels and a $750,000 purse have produced a large and competitive field of international runners, which seems a good mix for excellent wagering value.

1. Haute Diva: Should save ground from the rail but has yet to show she can be competitive in a Grade 1 or 2 stakes. Seems a tossout.

JOCKEY: Keith Asmussen; TRAINER: Patrick Biancone

2. Luster: She’s Canada’s top 3-year-old of either sex. Won the King’s Plate, Canada’s premier race, by 7 ¼ lengths as an odds-on favorite in excellent time. That was on an all-weather surface but she’s 2-for-2 on turf. Faces her toughest field yet but cannot be ignored.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Josie Carroll

3. Tam Tam: Extremely consistent filly exits a win in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Presented by Keeneland Sales. Has the kind of speed that should be helped by an inside post and figures to be right there at the finish. She’s been no worse than third in eight of nine career starts.

JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Phil Bauer        

4. Faithful Departed: Was a game second in both the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks and Belmont Oaks. Was collared late in the 1 3/16-mile Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks last time out and should be well-suited by a slightly shorter distance and two months of rest to prepare for this race.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Grant Forster

5. Turner’s Charm: Has a good late kick and would benefit from a fast pace. Will have no trouble with the distance after finishing third in the 1 5/16-mile Blackwood Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational in her last start.

JOCKEY: Ben Curtis; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh

6. Braida: Ships in from France, which commands attention. Won a couple of minor stakes overseas but was sixth in a Group 3 stakes. Hard to gauge how formidable she will be in this field. Her jockey and trainer, Mickael Barzalona and Francis-Henri Graffard, teamed to win the famed Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for a second year in a row with Daryz this past weekend.

JOCKEY: Mickael Barzalona; TRAINER: Francis-Henri Graffard

Storm's Wake wins Old Dominion Oaks (Coady Media)

7. Storm’s Wake: Won the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association here in the spring. Won the Old Dominion Oaks last time and is worth a look, especially if the odds are long.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Brian Lynch

8. Lookin At Diamond: Rallied for second against Tam Tam in the Del Mar Oaks. Fits in this field but has only raced in California so is a question mark on the thicker turf she will find at Keeneland.

JOCKEY: Julien Leparoux; TRAINER: Leonard Powell

9. Kensington Lane: Won the Belmont Oaks in her U.S. debut, then set the pace and faded to third in the final furlong of the Del Mar Oaks. There’s not a lot of speed in the race but she should be pressed by Tam Tam again. Seems very capable of landing in the exotics.

JOCKEY: Joel Roasario; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato

10. Deep Learning: Was third in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes and second in the Grade 3 Lake George Stakes Presented by Surfside. She has never raced this far. Would be overlooked, except that she’s trained by Chad Brown, who has won this stakes five times.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown

11. Soloist: Comes off a trio of second-place finishes, including the Old Dominion Oaks. Faces a tough assignment from the outside post.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

THE PICK: Faithful Departed

LIVE LONGSHOT: Storm’s Wake

SUPERFECTA: 4-2-6-3