Xigera to Receive Freshening; La Troienne Spring Target
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coady Photography/John Gallagher
Xigera wins the Falls City Stakes at Churchill Downs
Rigney Racing's Xigera , a 6 1/2-length winner of the Falls City Stakes (G3) on Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs, will head for a planned break this winter before targeting the La Troienne Stakes (G1) next May beneath the Twin Spires. The La Troienne is typically run on Kentucky Oaks Day, which next year will be on May 3.
"We're going to take her to the sidelines for the winter and hopefully take the same course as we did last year with Played Hard and target the La Troienne," trainer Phil Bauer said. "Our year-end goal next year will be the Breeders' Cup. We got bit with the injury bug this year with Played Hard, who we retired and never got to make it to the Breeders' Cup. Hopefully Xigera can fill Played Hard's shoes now that she's out of the barn."
Xigera's victory in Falls City was the fifth win of her 3-year-old season from just six starts. Bauer switched Xigera to the dirt three starts ago in the Seneca Overnight Stakes in fast time. In her next start, Xigera took on grade I winner Defining Purpose in the Mother Goose Stakes (G2) during the Belmont at the Big A meet and defeated her by 3 1/2 lengths.
Bauer and Rigney Racing won last year's Falls City with Played Hard , who returned five months later to win the La Troienne by a neck over 2022 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Oath .
Xigera capped a three-win day for Rigney and Bauer Nov. 23. The duo won race 9 with veteran Angkor and race 12 with 2-year-old debut starter Legadema .