Molly Morgan Scores Grade I in La Troienne

Molly Morgan would not be denied in this year's La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) May 1 at Churchill Downs .

Second in last year's edition of the La Troienne, Bill Cubbedge's Molly Morgan rallied along the rail coming off the far turn, opened a clear lead, then held off Sheer Drama to win the 1 1/16-mile La Troienne presented by TwinSpires.com. Corey Lanerie guided the daughter of Ghostzapper   to victory in the $300,000 race, her sixth overall from 14 starts on the Churchill dirt.

Trained by Dale Romans, the win marked the first grade I score for Molly Morgan, who completed the race on a fast track in 1:43.25 and held off a late rally from 2-1 favorite Sheer Drama to win by about three-quarters of a length. Sheer Drama passed Gold Medal Dancer late; the latter held third.

Early on Alto Racing's Sweet Whiskey forged a clear lead through a swift half-mile in :46.81, while this year's Azeri Stakes (gr. II) winner Gold Medal Dancer and last year's Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) runner-up My Miss Sophia gave chase. As those runners began to close in on a tiring Sweet Whiskey, Lanerie and Molly Morgan found room along the rail of the mare's favorite track.

"I was able to worm my way right over to the inside," Lanerie said. "I was lucky the rail never shut down on me and I was able to keep the momentum until I got through there."

Molly Morgan returned $13 to win, $5.40 to place, and $3.20 to show. Sheer Drama returned $4 to place and $2.80 to show, while third-place Gold Medal Dancer returned $2.80. With the win, Molly Morgan also turned the tables on Harold Queen homebred Sheer Drama, who won the March 21 Royal Delta Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, where Molly Morgan finished third.

The Royal Delta was Molly Morgan's first race since wrapping up 2014 with a third-place finish in the Falls City Handicap (gr. II) Nov. 27 at Churchill.

"Bill (Cubbedge) let me sit on her this winter, as we didn't turn her out," Romans said. "We just let her stay in training and get her feet back under her. I told Bill this is what helps to win big races down the road. She came with a good performance last time and the race at Gulfstream set her up perfectly for today."

Molly Morgan was bred in Kentucky by Cubbedge, Mike Lauffer, and Greg McDonald. She is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Distorted Humor   mare Capitulation.

The race was sure to produce a new grade I winner as none of the nine starters had previously won at the highest level.