The La Troienne – GI
5/1/20
CD Race 5 1 1/16M – Dirt
Purse $500.000
Four Year Olds and Up Fillies and Mares

A big grade one on a big day and big weekend of racing here at Churchill Downs and this race is on the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks. One of the early big races for this division so let’s take a look at the field.

1. Commanding Lady (14-4-1-0 $188.720), trained by Chili King Stables

And the first filly we come across here is coming into this race off of a fifth place finish in the Henson Handicap at Sunland Park. She is a stakes winner but the recent form is not great and she looks out of her zone in here.

2. Totally Baroque (13-3-3-1 $1,061.240), trained by Aer Stables

Last year’s runner up in the Kentucky Oaks here and she is also a graded stakes winner when she won the Gazelle and La Canada Stakes. She likes this surface and she is capable of winning if she brings her A game.

3. Cannolo (13-4-1-3 $1,101.100), trained by Mb Stables

Winner of the grade one Acorn last year right here and she did get that grade one that day but she has been the bridesmaid one too many times for my liking. She is definitely capable of winning this but she seems to like to run second or third in these big races.

4. Scarlet And Gray (15-5-4-1 $332.470), trained by Nakamura Stables

Multiple stakes winner here and she is coming into this race off of a win in the Top Flight Handicap at Aqueduct in her last start. She has won two in a row but she may be a little out of her league with these quality runners.

5. Ghost In The Shell (15-5-1-2 $760.580), trained by John Henry

Two grade one wins against older fillies and mares as a three year old last summer proved she was a very good runner and she got back to winning ways in an allowance at Tampa Bay last out. A return to last summer’s form gets her to the winners circle in here.

6. Z Command (17-7-3-3 $2,762.200), trained by Smokey Stover

Last years Breeders Cup Distaff winner and horse to beat in this race here as she comes into this race with five wins in her last six starts. She won the grade one Madison at Keeneland to prep for this race and she looks like she is ready to roll in here.

7. Laffy Crack (12-3-5-2 $126.580), trained by Night Rider Stables

Obviously a huge shot be taking with this former claimer who was just claimed two races back for thirty five bucks. She did crush an allowance field at Sam Houston but this is a whole other class of fillies and mares she has take on in here.

8. Spicy Poke (13-4-4-2 $460.600), trained by Estero Farms

Another graded stakes winner here who kind of likes to play bridesmaid also but she did run a very good second in the Azeri at Oaklawn last time. She does like to show speed early so she be up near the front most of the way probably.

9. Grobscure (19-5-3-2 $137.570), trained by Nolespan Racing

Last one here and she was claimed out of her last start which was a turf sprint down at Tampa Bay. Changing up to routing on the dirt and going against this field is a huge question mark. Only thing going for her is this trainer has pulled a few upsets before.

Summary

Well the money and prestige was here for this race and they showed up to try and get it. Z Command obviously is the horse to beat and she should be the favorite but she is definitely going to have to work for it. Good luck to all in the field.

6-5-2-3

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES