Champions Unrivaled Belle and Blind Luck return to Churchill Downs for a rematch in the La Troienne Stakes (gr. III) May 5. Last time they met Unrivaled Belle bested the Kentucky Oaks winner (gr. I) in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I) at the Louisville track. They face seven others in the $300,000 event.
Both champions look to regain their winning form in the 1 1/16-mile La Troienne. Unrivaled Belle, who defeated Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in last year’s La Troienne, began 2011 with a third in the Rampart Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park. Blind Luck brings five consecutive runner-up efforts into the race, including a second in the March 19 Azeri Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park.
Assigned high weight of 123, Unrivaled Belle breaks from post 8 for owner-breeders Gary Seidler and Pete Vegso. The Unbridled’s Song mare is trained by Bill Mott. Blind Luck, who is co-owned by her trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, and Dr. Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, and Peter Abruzzo, breaks from post 7.
Others entered in the La Troienne include Ravi Son and Stage Magic, who finished one-two in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes, and Absinthe Minded, winner of the Bayakoa at Oaklawn before third-place finishes behind Havre de Grace in the Azeri and Apple Blossom (gr. I).