Trainer Brendan Walsh is entering three horses in two prestigious Grade 1 turf races this Saturday at Keeneland: the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile and the $800,000 First Lady Stakes. Among these contenders are two horses with previous Grade 1 victories in Lexington—Dixiana Farms’ Lush Lips and Farfellow Farms’ Expensive Queen—both competing in a strong field of 11 for the First Lady.
Lush Lips captured the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) during the 2025 Fall Meet, while Expensive Queen shared the Jenny Wiley (G1) title in a dead heat with Segesta earlier this year at the Spring Meet. Walsh had originally hoped both fillies would have productive spring and summer seasons, but setbacks altered those plans.
“We believed 2026 would be a solid campaign for Lush Lips,” Walsh said. “She ran well in the Honey Fox (G3) at Gulfstream in February, but shortly before the Jenny Wiley, she encountered an issue that forced us to scratch her.”
Lush Lips did not return to racing until late August, finishing second in the Ellis Park Turf Stakes. Leading most of the 1 1/16-mile race, the 4-year-old daughter of Ten Sovereigns was overtaken near the finish by Totally Justified by a length. Walsh anticipates improvement in the First Lady based on her training since.
“She performed well at Ellis, though I think she wasn’t as prepared as I initially thought,” Walsh explained. “She made a move heading into the stretch but ran out of energy late. Her workouts since have been excellent, and we have her back to the top form she showed in the spring.”
Meanwhile, Expensive Queen, undefeated in three starts this season, will enter the First Lady without a prep race. Walsh noted, “She sustained a minor injury after the Jenny Wiley, which sidelined her until now. Being a lighter filly, she may not have needed a prep like Lush Lips did. Her recent workouts have been very promising, and we are excited to race her.”
Walsh is also preparing to debut Title Role in the Coolmore Turf Mile. Owned by Will Stroud, Title Role spent part of the summer with Walsh’s team in Saratoga after trainer Simon Crisford previously managed him. The colt won the Belmont Derby (G1) on July 4 and placed third in the Saratoga Derby (G1) on August 8.
Since taking over, Walsh and assistant Charlie Lynch have given Title Role two gallops on the Oklahoma Training Track turf and additional workouts on Turfway Park’s synthetic surface to gear him up for the turf mile race. Walsh commented, “The transition has gone smoothly; he’s a nice horse with strong form and is doing well. The mile distance should suit him, as his prior races were longer.”
Acknowledging Title Role’s modest workout routine, Walsh added, “He’s not the most spectacular work horse but does adequate breezing. He looks great physically, and we’re looking forward to a good run. It’s a big step to face older horses for the first time, with a quality field assembled. We’ll give it our best and look forward to next season as well.”
This article was first published by Paulick Report on October 2, 2026, in the News section.
Fan Take: This update on Brendan Walsh’s stable highlights some of the most exciting turf talent poised to impact major Grade 1 races, offering fans a glimpse at potential stars shaping the future of turf racing. How these horses perform could influence breeding decisions and race strategies in coming years, making this a pivotal moment for the sport’s development.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
