La Troienne (Grade 1)- $500.000 Purse
CD- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
May 3, 2019

This Friday at CD we will see the best three year old fillies in the virtual racing world go at it in the KYO, but that is not the only excitement on the race card. The La Troienne is a Grade 1 race for older females and a healthy $500.000 purse while being on the undercard of the big race. It is the highest purse that the race has ever seen, up from $350.000 last year. In the past, this is a race that does not attract a large field, so it is not a surprise to see only five entered for the race. Last year, D J C Racing Stables won the race with Whispering Nurse, who prevented Dirty Deeds from winning the race two years in a row. He will have a good chance to make it two in a row this year. Here’s a look at the field!

#1- Red Trance (Fractious, ridden by J R Velazquez)- One of two newbies in this field to graded stakes racing. She’s only raced five times, and has never failed to hit the board, albeit she is typically in small fields. Fractious picked her up in a claim from Mb Stables for $25.000, and solid in debut for the new trainer, placing second in an optional claimer. Probably just needed a little more distance there, and will get that here. The winner of that race, Ghost Havoc, a fellow Wreaking Havoc foal, recently ran second in the Grade 3 Whimsical.

#2- Pumpernickel Basil (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by E Esquivel)- The filly has faired well in small graded stakes, or statebred states, such as the Empire Classic. At times, the aspirations have been bigger in her career, such as the Grade 1 Acorn last year, or the Grade 2 Azeri in her last start, and those are not the best race lines in her past performances. This might be the big race that she has been waiting for, given the smaller field, and the lack of a major headliner in the field. The experience has she attained in races like the Grade 3 Royal Delta, that she won in February, will do her well here.

#3- Honey Dew (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by E A Roman)- Looks to be an inconsistent filly. Did have one good stretch of races from June to November, with a handful of runner ups leading up to a win in the $100.000 Ballerina BC, a Grade 3 against two other horses. She has had some duds as well lately, including the Falls City Handicap right here at CD last fall. Pumpernickel Basil also run there, and while she was only fourth, she beat Honey Dew by about three lengths. This looks like she will be in the mix again, but I can’t throw too much support behind her due to the inconsistency.

#4- Too Much Wisdom (Mb Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- Has the best credentials coming into this race, with wins in half of her career starts (8 of 16), and four more races finishing second. This makes her the highest earner in the field. She has won some Grade 3’s in her career, while also having success on the NY-bred circuit. She has attempted a couple Grade 1’s, and did run fourth in the Beholder Mile in the last start. This is a filly that is looking for her signature win, and this seems to be the time for it.

#5- Jakes Language (Nolespan Racing, ridden by M E Smith)- Will be making just the third start of her career, and comes into the race after breaking her maiden against three others last month in a maiden claimer at SA, at today’s distance. Only has one public work, a three furlong breeze, making her a true wild card in this field. I like to see it first before I pick them.

Prediction: 4-2-3-1

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES