Grade 1 Trio Returns for a Showdown in Fleur de Lis

The top three finishers from the La Troienne Stakes Presented by Signify Health (G1) back in May are returning for another showdown July 2 in the $350,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Stonestreet Stables' homebred La Troienne winner Pauline's Pearl  will be joined by second-place finisher Shedaresthedevil  and third-place finisher Ava's Grace . Shedaresthedevil, who won the 2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), is owned by Whisper Hill Farm, Qatar Racing, and Flurry Racing Stables while Ava's Grace is owned by Cypress Creek Equine. The three contenders also will all be ridden by the same jockeys who were aboard for the La Troienne.

Pauline's Pearl comes into the Fleur de Lis off an uncharacteristic fourth-place finish in the June 4 listed Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs.

"I think the La Troienne was her best race to date, and she took a little bit of a natural regression," said trainer Steve Asmussen of the Shawnee, the 4-year-old daughter of Tapit  's only off-the-board finish in her last eight starts going back to July 2, 2021. "We have dialed it back up and feel she is set for her 'A' race in the Fleur de Lis. She has been training very impressively."

Shedaresthedevil, a 5-year-old daughter of Daredevil  , has not found the winner's circle since Sept. 18, 2021, when she won the 8 1/2-furlong Locust Grove Stakes (G3) by a neck.

"She is training every bit as well as she ever has, so I don't feel as though she's lost a step," said trainer Brad Cox. "In both of her runs this year, they have been good. Her last run in the La Troienne was a really good race, and she was narrowly defeated by a really good filly. We need to step up and move forward and then we're a factor."

Shedaresthedevil was second by half a length in the La Troienne with Florent Geroux aboard and was third previously in the Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park in March.

Ava's Grace, by Laoban , comes into the La Troienne off a second in the Shawnee behind Robert Zoellner's homebred She's All Wolfe , a daughter of Magna Graduate  who also has been entered in the Fleur de Lis.

Trained by Robertino Diodoro and to be ridden by David Cohen, Ava's Grace is one of three fillies in the Fleur de Lis who prefer taking an early lead and forcing her opponents to come get her. The other speedsters include Shedaresthedevil, who has won three graded stakes gate-to-wire, including the 2021 La Troienne; and, Marylou Whitney Stables' homebred Super Quick , who comes into the Fleur de Lis off a 14 1/4-length win in the May 20 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (G3) that was run in 1:47 3/5—just two-fifths off the Fleur de Lis stakes record.

Super Quick, by Super Saver  , earned a 110 Equibase Speed Rating in the DuPont, giving her the highest career speed figure in the field.

If the front-runners push each other enough, the race could set up well for Pauline's Pearl, who has been most successful sitting just off the pace. She will be ridden by Joel Rosario.

"There is plenty of speed signed on for this race; some very fast fillies," said Asmussen. "The DuPont was a super quick number and you are also facing a past Oaks winner in there, but we have an exceptional filly to try it with."

Entries: Fleur de Lis S. (G2)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, July 02, 2022, Race 8

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $350,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:35 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Super Quick (KY)	Joseph Talamo	121	Norm W. Casse	2/1
2	2She's All Wolfe (OK)	Francisco Arrieta	119	Donnie K. Von Hemel	5/1
3	3Ava's Grace (KY)	David Cohen	119	Robertino Diodoro	6/1
4	4Pauline's Pearl (KY)	Joel Rosario	124	Steven M. Asmussen	5/2
5	5Shedaresthedevil (KY)	Florent Geroux	121	Brad H. Cox	9/5