Shedaresthedevil, Envoutante to Battle in Locust Grove

After a summer spent training at Ellis Park and shipping to Del Mar to win the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1), Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stables and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil  returns to racing Sept. 18 at Churchill Downs, where she is perfect in four starts.

Winner of the 2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill and this spring's La Troienne Stakes Presented by Twinspires.com (G1), Shedaresthedevil headlines Saturday's 37th running of the $400,000 Locust Grove Stakes (G3), a race that also drew graded stakes winner Envoutante . Part of a night racing card, the Locust Grove is race 10 with a post time of 10:42 p.m. ET.

The Locust Grove is meant to prepare Shedaresthedevil for this fall's Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 6.

The Brad Cox trainee, a 15-1 upset winner in last fall's Kentucky Oaks, surpassed $2 million in earnings with a victory in last month's $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar. Shedaresthedevil began her career at Churchill Downs in 2019 where she earned a 3 1/4-length debut win for trainer Norm Casse. Following a three-race stint with California-based conditioner Simon Callaghan, she was transferred to Cox in early 2020. 

The now 4-year-old daughter of Daredevil   is 3-for-4 to start her 2021 campaign. Jockey Florent Geroux has been aboard Shedaresthedevil for her past eight starts and will be reunited with the eight-time winner Saturday from the outside post in the expected field of seven fillies and mares.

Also fond of the Churchill strip is last year's $200,000 Falls City Stakes (G2) winner Envoutante. Owned by Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm and trained by Kenny McPeek, Envoutante finished second to Shedaresthedevil in the La Troienne. Following that race, Envoutante was victorious in the $150,000 Shawnee Stakes. The 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo   has been away from the races since June 26 when she finished third to leading Distaff contender Letruska  in the $300,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill. 

Envoutante has recorded five victories through 13 starts with purse earnings of $571,438. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount from post 5.

Crystal Ball , High Regard , Lady Kate , Matera , and Our Super Freak  complete the field.

Entries: Locust Grove S. (G3)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 18, 2021, Race 10

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $400,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 10:42 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Crystal Ball (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	121	Rodolphe Brisset	8/1
2	2High Regard (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	121	Victoria H. Oliver	30/1
3	3Lady Kate (KY)	Adam Beschizza	121	Eddie Kenneally	15/1
4	4Matera (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	121	Brad H. Cox	12/1
5	5Envoutante (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	121	Kenneth G. McPeek	2/1
6	6Our Super Freak (KY)	David Cohen	121	Cherie DeVaux	8/1
7	7Shedaresthedevil (KY)	Florent Geroux	125	Brad H. Cox	4/5