Shadow Cast, Island Sand Meet Again in Fleur de Lis

The rivalry between Shadow Cast and Island Sand will head into its third act Saturday at Churchill Downs when the pair of 4-year-old stakes winning fillies line up for the Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) going 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs.

Shadow Cast and Island Sand first met this year in the April 9 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park. Neither walked away the winner, with Dream of Summer inching out a neck win over Star Parade. Shadow Cast took third with Island Sand finishing fourth.

Their rivalry moved to Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) undercard May 6 when Shadow Cast finished a length better than Island Sand in the Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II).

Trained by Neil Howard, Shadow Cast began the year with two straight wins in the Truly Bound and Bayou Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT), both on the turf at Fair Grounds.

Racing as a homebred for William S. Farish, the daughter of Smart Strike has a career record of 8-1-6 from 18 career starts.

Produced from the Dayjur mare Daily Special, Shadow Cast registered a four-furlong work in :48.20 June 13 over a muddy Churchill Downs surface.

Regular rider Robby Albarado gets the call with the pair breaking from post two carrying a top weight of 118 pounds.

Island Sand will be looking for her first win of the year in the Fleur de Lis. She began the season with a second-place effort in the Feb. 20 Pippin Stakes before finishing third as the favorite in the March 12 Azeri Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III), both at Oaklawn Park.

Trained by Larry Jones for B.A. Man, Island Sand worked five furlongs in 1:05 June 10 at Ellis Park.

Mike Smith gets the mount aboard Island Sand, breaking from post four under 115 pounds.

The field for Saturday's $300,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) includes:
1-- Two Trail Sioux (Pat Day, 114)
2-- Shadow Cast (Robby Albarado, 118)
3-- Quick Temper (Larry Melancon, 111)
4-- Island Sand (Mike Smith, 115)
5-- Freei (Cornelio Velasquez, 114)
6-- Rare Gift (Edgar Prado, 115)
7-- Storm's Darling (Eddie Martin Jr., 115)
8-- La Reason (Corey Lanerie, 114)