Flurry Racing, Qatar Racing Limited and Whisper Hill Farm's 2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) heroine Shedaresthedevil will be in search of her first victory this year in Saturday's $350,000 Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs.
The 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis is one of six stakes events on the Stephen Foster Day program. The spectacular 12-race card is headlined by the $750,000 Stephen Foster (G2) in Race 10. The other stakes on the program are the $200,000 American Derby (Listed), the $200,000 Tepin and the $160,000 Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes. First post is 12:45 p.m. and the Fleur de Lis will go to post at 4:35 p.m. as Race 8.
The Fleur de Lis is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen where a portion of entry fees will be paid to the top three finishers toward the $2 million Distaff (GI) held on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
Shedaresthedevil, who returned to training for her 5-year-old campaign after being purchased for $5 million at the Fasig Tipton November Sale. Aside from her win in the 2020 Oaks as a 3-year-old, the classy Daredevil mare also sports wins in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1), La Troienne (G1), Azeri (G2), Indiana Oaks (G3) and Honeybee (G3). Shedaresthedevil has not found the winner's circle since last year's $400,000 Locust Grove (G3) at Churchill Downs. Jockey Florent Geroux will remain in the saddle for the Fleur de Lis and will break from post 5.
Chief among Shedaresthedevil's rivals in the Fleur de Lis is Marylou Whitney Stables' $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff (G3) winner Super Quick. The speedy daughter of Super Saver was fleet-footed early in the Allair DuPont Distaff and spurted clear to a 14 ¼-length romp. Jockey Joe Talamo will have the mount on the Norm Casse trainee from post 1.
Stonestreet Stables' $750,000 La Troienne (G1) winner Pauline's Pearl will attempt to avenge her fourth-place finish in last month's $200,000 Shawnee in the Fleur de Lis. Conditioned by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Pauline's Pearl upset Shedaresthedevil in the La Troienne. The well-bred daughter of Tapit returned four weeks later in the Shawnee but finished fourth to 20-1 upset winner She's All Wolfe. Joel Rosario will have the call from post 4.
The aforementioned She's All Wolfe will return in the Fleur de Lis for owner Robert Zoeliner and trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel. The Oklahoma-bred daughter of Magna Graduate has eight lifetime wins but only two against open competition – the Shawnee and a conditioned allowance event last May at Churchill Downs. Jockey Francisco Arrieta will have the return call from post 2.
Here's the complete field for the Fleur de Lis from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):
- Super Quick (Talamo, Casse)
- She's All Wolfe (Arrieta, Von Hemel)
- Ava's Grace (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro)
- Pauline's Pearl (Rosario, Asmussen)
- Shedaresthedevil (Geroux, Cox)
Wagering is available on www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
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