Grade I winners Curalina, Sheer Drama, and Angela Renee will seek to enhance their reputations in the $300,000 La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) on the May 6 Kentucky Oaks card at Churchill Downs.
Sheer Drama, trained by David Fawkes for Harold Queen, began her 6-year-old campaign in style by winning a stretch duel with Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Stopchargingmaria to win the Madison Stakes (gr. I) April 9 at Keeneland, her first grade I win sprinting. The Burning Roma mare also notched victories in last year's Delaware Handicap (gr. I) at Delaware Park and the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) before finishing fourth in the Distaff.
ANGST: Sheer Drama Picks Up Sprinting Grade I
Drawing the rail under John Velazquez is Eclipse Thoroughbreds’ Curalina, winner of the Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks, both grade I, last year for trainer Todd Pletcher. Unraced since finishing third in the Distaff, the daughter of Curlin also placed in two grade I stakes last year, with a second in the Beldame and third in the Alabama Stakes.
Angela Renee, winner of the grade I Chandelier Stakes who was purchased by Don Alberto Corp. for $3 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale, will be making her second start of the year, which began with a victory in an allowance/optional claimer going a mile and 70 yards at Aqueduct Racetrack.
A daughter of Bernardini from the Deputy Minister mare Pilfer, Angela Renee raced as a homebred for Siena Farms with trainer Todd Pletcher to win the Chandelier Stakes. She placed in the Adirondack (gr. II), Spinaway (gr. I), and Demoiselle (gr. II) as a 2-year-old, and ran second to eventual Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Lovely Maria in the 2015 Ashland Stakes (gr. I).
Angela Renee is now trained by Chad Brown and will have Javier Castellano up for the La Troienne.
Naveed Chowhan’s Brooklynsway, trained by Bernie Flint, is coming off a win in the Doubledogdare (gr. III) at Keeneland after achieving most of her success in Canada, where she won five stakes for J. R. Racing Stable and trainer John Ross.
The Doubledogdare was the mare’s second start for her new connections after being purchased for $180,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale.
The two other stakes winners in the field are Godolphin’s Penwith, the 120-pound highweight who won the Royal Delta Stakes (gr. II), and Belle Mahone Stakes winner Theogony.
Churchill Downs, Friday, May 06, 2016, Race 6Entries: La Troienne S. (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Curalina (KY) John R. Velazquez 118 Todd A. Pletcher 9/5 2 2Sheer Drama (FL) Joe Bravo 118 David Fawkes 8/5 3 3Angela Renee (KY) Javier Castellano 118 Chad C. Brown 6/1 4 4Brooklynsway (ON) Robby Albarado 118 Bernard S. Flint 15/1 5 5Penwith (KY) Luis Saez 120 Kiaran P. McLaughlin 7/2 6 6Engaginglee (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 118 Dale L. Romans 20/1 7 7Theogony (KY) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 118 Mark E. Casse 15/1
