Evenly Matched Field Set for Fleur de Lis

[Wandering Eyes]

An evenly matched field that includes the top three finishers from both the GIII Doubledogdare S. and the GIII Allaire DuPont Distaff S. is set to line up for the GII Fleur de Lis H. Saturday at Churchill Downs, a “Win and You’re In” event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Valadorna (Curlin) led home a ‘TDN Rising Star’ exacta in Keeneland’s Doubledogdare Apr. 20, notching a 3/4-length victory over Apologynotaccepted (Fusaichi Pegasus) with Song of Spring (Spring at Last) another half-length back in third. Only off the board once in 10 starts, Valadorna captured the Tiffany Lass S. at Fair Grounds Dec. 26, but tired to sixth next out in the GIII Houston Ladies Classic Jan. 28 prior to her victory in Lexington.

Song of Spring rebounded off her Doubledogdare effort with a win in the DuPont Distaff over a sloppy Pimlico track on the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. undercard. GII Falls City H. winner Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) came up a half-length short of Song of Spring in the DuPont and GI Apple Blossom H. third Fuhriously Kissed (Langfuhr) completed the trifecta.

GI La Troienne S. runner-up Farrell (Malibu Moon) seems to be returning to the form she showed last year at the Fair Grounds when she won the Silverbulletday S., GII Rachel Alexandra S. and GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Capping off 2017 with a win in this venue’s GII Chilukki S. and starting this term with a victory in Oaklawn’s Pippin S. Jan. 18, the dark bay was off the board in the GIII Bayakoa S. a month later and checked in third in the GII Azeri S. in March. She failed to fire again in the Apple Blossom, but showed signs of her sophomore form last time when second to Salty (Quality Road) after setting the early pace in this venue’s La Troienne May 4.

 

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