Micheline in Her Comfort Zone When Residing Outdoors
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Photo: Grace Clark/Kentucky Downs
Micheline wins the Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs
When Micheline travels, she takes her home with her—specifically, a portable stall.
The Fair Hill-based 3-year-old filly, a 6-1 morning-line chance in the Oct. 10 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Dixiana (G1T) at Keeneland, prefers to stay outside, which lessens her claustrophobia. The setup has worked, leading to her winning four races and $445,978 for owner/breeder Godolphin. The most recent of these victories was the Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Oaks Sept. 10 at Kentucky Downs.
The Mike Stidham trainee and her companion traveling horse, Colonel, arrived at Keeneland early the morning of Oct. 8, and not long after, she found herself outside in her portable stall. The stall has wood-lined farm gates and a fitted gray tarp for a ceiling.
Micheline takes in the scene at Keeneland from her portable stall that keeps her outdoors
During her early training in Florida, the Bernardini filly was so claustrophobic that she was turned out in a paddock instead of residing in a stall. Before she relocated to Fair Hill, an outdoor stall was built.
"She lived there for the summer, and then last winter when we went to Tampa Bay Downs, Godolphin bought her a portable stall so she could live just outside the barn," Stidham said.
While Micheline's situation is unusual, horsemen routinely conjure up clever methods to manage racehorses' behaviors. Some horses relax with a goat as a companion. Others enjoy a window in the stall between themselves and their next-door neighbor. Inquisitive types like to see plenty of activity, while introverts are more comfortable in a quiet section of the barn.
Regardless of her quirks, Micheline is a runner. Third in her debut last year, she next won the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park. She opened 2020 with a runner-up effort in the Feb. 1 Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, and she won the Honey Ryder Stakes at Gulfstream May 2. She has a 4-1-1 record from 11 starts.
"She has been at Fair Hill since her last race and has been training well," Stidham said. "We are happy that we were invited to the Queen Elizabeth II."
Florent Geroux will ride Micheline on Saturday. Stidham and Geroux won the 2015 QE II with Her Emmynency.
Even her family has ties to success at Keeneland. Her dam, Panty Raid, won the 2007 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) on Polytrack.