A group of five top older fillies and mares line up together for a chance to add a grade one victory to their resume in the 12^th running of the La Troinne Stakes. MB Stables is looking to with this race in back to back years…..but there are three other top owners who are going to try and keep this from happening.

1-Zero Hour(Sanny Village)- A 4 year old who is coming into her third race this year, zero hour has shown the ability to win larger purse races, winning $400 Houston Lady classic two back and winning the $200 purse Chilukki grade two stake three back. Zero Hour is also grade one placed hitting the board in September of 2014 under former owner Whitewater Stables. After that impressive showing Sanny village was able to pry the horse away for $200 and has paid major dividens since the purchase. Zero Hour is however coming off a disappointing race last out in the grade one Santa Margarita Stakes where t only beat one horse home….its stable mate and also an entrant in this race Its Taco Time. Can Zero Hour move past that last poor performace…..only time will tell but I believe so and think this horse has a very good chance to win.

2-Living Dead Gril (Wynnewood)- Another 4 year old who was a private purchase by Wynnewood fir $300 in May of 2014. Did Wynnewood purchase this horse because she is a fan of Rob Zombie….I think not it, it had to be because just prior to the sale it won impressively in a grade three stake. Living Dead Girl then paid instant dividends for Wynnewood and won the ungraded Kent Handicap in July of 2014 but has been winless since then. Living Dead Girl has been moving forward in her past two starts finishing second in both The Affectionately Handicap and most recently the grade three Bayakoa.   This is Living Dead Girls first time in a grade one race and she has some tough customers to face we will see if she is ready to take that big leap and secure the largest win in her career.

3-Its Taco Time (Sanny Village)-Sanny Villages second 4 year old in the race, however this is a rare homebred from his stable. Its Taco Time has an impressive past performance line which includes a grade one victory in the win and your in BC race the Spinster Stakes in October 2014. This win secured Its Taco Time’s spot in the BC Lady Classic where she finished in a dead heat for 6^th three lengths off the winner. In the write up for Zero Hour I talked about Its Taco Time’s last place effort last out in the Santa Margarita Stakes, however two races back she finished second in the grade two La Canada Stakes. This horse has won two graded stakes in the past, and I think the last race is a throw out. I feel that Its Taco Time could be sitting on a big race, but will It be enough to beat this tough group of horses…..only time will tell.

4-Little Jen (MB Stables) A 4 year old rags to riches story here for MB Stables. Little Jen was claimed for both $10 and then $15, and ultimately bought by MB Stables for $75 in February of 2014. The horse paid off huge in its next start winning the grade one Santa Anita Oaks and earned a trip to the Kentucky Oaks where she ran 4^th. Little Jen has won a grade one race and two grade two races, and hit the board in several other graded stakes races. Little Jen comes into the race having hit the board in all three starts this year, including a win two back in the grade two Santa Maria Stakes. Little Jens last race was a third in the grade 2 Azeri, however this race was in the slop so an excuse can be made for not winning.   On paper this horse looks to be well placed and has just as good a shot at winning as any.

5-A Class Angie (Night Rider Stables- This horse makes it a clean sweep for 4 year olds in this race. A home bred for Night Rider Stables this horse decided that breaking its maiden in a maiden race was going to be way to easy for her so she decided to do it against graded stakes company in the grade three Iowa Oaks in June of 2014. A class Angie did not stop there she then came back and won the grade one Cotillion Stakes in September 2014 and earned a spot in the BC Lady Classic.   A Class Angie did not embarrass herself in the BC Lady Classic either and finished a dead heat for 4^th two lengths back. Since the BC A Class Angie has raced five times and hit the board on two occasions both being third place finishes. This horse seems hard to figure out, when she shows up she can run and beat anyone….we will see what horse shows up on the first Friday in May.

For being a small field there is a lot of talent which makes for a very exciting race. In my opinion there are many different ways that this race can play out due to the sheer talent of the five horses who have signed on. On any given day any one of them could win. I look forward to watching the race to see how it unfolds. My prediction is 3-4-5-2-1. Good luck to all the runners and there owners.

Categories: Grade I