The undefeated Laurelin will try to stay perfect when she leaves the starting gate in the 2025 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. A 3-year-old Irish-bred filly, Laurelin is 5-for-5 in her career and 3-for-3 this year. She enters Saturday off an eye-catching victory in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational. For Saturday she has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the 2025 QE II odds. Fionn (3-1), Opulent Restraint (4-1), Lush Lips (5-1) and Destino d'Oro (8-1) round out the top five horses in the nine-horse QE II field. Post time for the Grade 1 QE II is 5:16 p.m. ET.
With several talented horses set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you NEED to see what SportsLine horse racing expert Gene Menez has to say before making any 2025 QE II picks or horse racing predictions, considering the roll he has been on since November.
A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.
In 2015, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta, which paid $1,268.20 for $2. In 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet. In May of last year, Menez gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby. Unlock his 2025 Breeders' Futurity picks now and take 50% off with promo code JOCKEY.
Menez has been on a roll since November. He crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday for a $5,303 windfall. He nailed the winner, trifecta and superfecta in the Florida Derby for a $529.60 score and the winner and trifecta in the Blue Grass Stakes for a $761.96 jackpot. Hit the late Pick 4 on Kentucky Oaks day for $915.48. And in the Kentucky Derby, he hammered the exacta and trifecta for a $1,045 payout.
In addition, in June Menez earned a spot in November's Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge, arguably the most prestigious handicapping tournament in the country.
Now, Menez has handicapped the 2025 QE II field and revealed his picks. We can tell you that Menez's top pick is not Laurelin, even though she is the 5-2 favorite. "I have nothing against Laurelin, but the price doesn't provide value in this competitive field," Menez told SportsLine. Menez is not using Laurelin in any of his QE II wagers. Join SportsLine NOW to unlock his full 2025 QE II picks for 50% off with promo code JOCKEY.
Instead, Menez's top pick is a double-digit longshot who will be "running at the end." Menez is including this horse in his 2025 QE II bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horse it is before making any 2025 QE II picks of your own.
So which double-digit longshot wins the 2025 QE II? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine NOW to get the top 2025 QE II picks and bets, all from the expert who nailed the Kentucky Derby exacta and trifecta. Take 50% off with promo code JOCKEY.
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