Eight fillies and mares were entered, but only three faced the starter after a series of scratches before Saturday's Grade 2 Fleur De Lis Stakes at Ellis Park. Stonestreet Stables' homebred Tapit mare Pauline's Pearl was victorious in the 1 1/8-mile race – one of six stakes on the day that were originally scheduled to be run at Churchill Downs but moved to the Henderson, Ky., track when Churchill Downs officials opted to end their summer meet early after a dozen fatalities raised safety concerns.
Ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Steve Asmussen, Pauline's Pearl sat just behind her two rivals, Bellamore and A Mo Reay, who battled on the front end for much of the way. Rosario swung Pauline's Pearl to the outside and she wore down the two front-runners in the final furlong to win comfortably by three-quarters of a length in 1:49.59 on a fast track. Bellamore held second by a neck, but stewards lit the inquiry sign and disqualified the Empire Maker mare for interfering with A Mo Reay down the stretch.
Heartyconstitution, Moon Swag, Music Street, Royal Take Charge and Sou of an Angel were scratched by their trainers.
Pauline's Pearl paid $6.52 as the second choice in the wagering behind 2-5 favorite A Mo Reay. It was the eighth career win from 19 starts for Pauline's Pearl, who won the G1 La Troienne as a 4-year-old in 2022.
The Fleur De Lis winner was produced from the Dixie Union mare, Hot Dixie Chick, winner of the G1 Schuylerville Stakes as a 2-year-old. Hot Dixie Chick was produced by another graded stakes winner, the California-bred Above Perfection.
Pauline's Pearl has done a lot of traveling during her career, which began at Fair Grounds as a 2-year-old. At 3, she raced at Oaklawn, Churchill Downs, Prairie Meadows, Charles Town, Remington Park and Zia Park. She began her 4-year-old campaign at Sam Houston, then raced at Oaklawn and Churchill Downs, then returned to Sam Houston in January of this year to kick off her 5-year-old season, which included a trip to Santa Anita in March for the G1 Beholder. Pauline's Pearl was coming off a sixth-place finish in defense of her title in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs.
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