After finishing second in last year's La Troienne Stakes (gr. I), Molly Morgan will again try for the first grade I victory of her career in this year's edition of the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares.
In fact all nine horses entered in this year's $300,000 La Troienne Stakes Presented by TwinSpires.com Friday, May 1 at Churchill Downs will be looking for their first win at the highest level. While the field boasts several graded stakes winners, Molly Morgan may hold a bit of an advantage on the Churchill surface.
Besides finishing second to On Fire Baby in last year's La Troienne, Bill Cubbedge's Molly Morgan also secured a pair of grade II stakes at the Louisville track with clear victories in the Fleur de Lis Handicap and Chilukki Stakes.
Molly Morgan will be making her second start of the season after finishing third to Sheer Drama in the Royal Delta Stakes (gr. II) March 21 at Gulfstream Park. Harold Queen homebred Sheer Drama also is entered in Friday's La Troienne.
Molly Morgan isn't the only La Troienne entrant who has enjoyed success at Churchill as Frivolous drew the outside post in the field of nine. A 5-year-old daughter of Empire Maker , Frivolous closed last season with a half-length victory over Don't Tell Sophia in the Falls City Handicap (gr. II), a race where Molly Morgan finished third.
Friday's field also includes last year's Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) runner-up My Miss Sophia. My For Mathis Stable, My Miss Sophia won last year's Gazelle Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack and will make her 4-year-old season debut in the La Troienne. Trainer Bill Mott scratched My Miss Sophia from a planned start in the Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes (gr. III) April 17 at Keeneland.
The La Troienne will mark My Miss Sophia's first start for owner Jon Clay's Alpha Delta Stables. The daughter of Unbridled's Song sold for $2.15 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale where she was purchased by Reynolds Bell Jr., agent, from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. Trained by Todd Pletcher last year, she will make her debut for Mott Friday.
Friday's field also includes Gold Medal Dancer, who knocked off Untapable in the Azeri Stakes (gr. II) March 14 at Oaklawn Park before finishing third to last year's champion 3-year-old filly in the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 10 at Oaklawn.
The field also includes last year's Indiana Oaks (gr. II) winner Tiz Windy, grade III winner Sweet Whiskey, stakes winner America, and stakes-placed Interest Free.
Churchill Downs, Friday, May 01, 2015, Race 7Entries: La Troienne S. (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Tiz Windy (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 120 Carl A. Nafzger - 2 2My Miss Sophia (KY) Javier Castellano 118 William I. Mott - 3 3Sweet Whiskey (KY) John R. Velazquez 118 Todd A. Pletcher - 4 4America (KY) Junior Alvarado 118 William I. Mott - 5 5Sheer Drama (FL) Joe Bravo 120 David Fawkes - 6 6Interest Free (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 118 Neil J. Howard - 7 7Gold Medal Dancer (KY) Luis S. Quinonez 120 Donnie K. Von Hemel - 8 8Molly Morgan (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 120 Dale L. Romans - 9 9Frivolous (KY) Jon Kenton Court 120 Victoria H. Oliver -
