Frivolous Pulls 32-1 Stunner in Fleur de Lis
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Frivolous edged just past pacesetter Yahilwa on the turn and then pulled away through the stretch to win the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) in a 32-1 upset June 13 at Churchill Downs .
G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s homebred daughter of Empire Maker had clear sailing through the final sixteenth while favorite and runner-up Sheer Drama, fifth early, closed resolutely to her outside, but had to settle for second, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Third-place finisher Tiz Windy was outfinished for second by a head.
Frivolous pressed about a half-length behind Yahilwa until midway through the turn, where she was shifted out to challenge. When Jon Court called on the winner, she lengthened stride into the stretch to secure the victory.
Frivolous, fourth in last year's Fleur de Lis, covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.22 on a fast track, posting her second graded stakes win and fourth overall from 20 career starts. She received an automatic berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) Oct. 30 at Keeneland, as the Fleur de Lis is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series of qualifying races.
Winning for the first time in three starts this year, 5-year-old Frivolous emphatically bounced back from her last-place finish in the La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) May 1 at Churchill, beaten some 20 lengths in a race in which Sheer Drama was second. Last November, she won the Falls City Handicap (gr. II) at 19-1 odds for trainer Victoria Oliver.
"It's a very big win for her and I've always believed in the filly," Oliver said after the Fleur de Lis. "She dances every dance. I don't know what happened on Oaks Day, but she showed up today. She loves this track."
Frivolous, who carried 116 pounds, paid $66.20, $24, and $10.40, and Sheer Drama, under 120 pounds, returned $3.40 and $2.60. Tiz Windy (116 pounds) paid $3.60 to show.
Yahilwa held on for fourth in the nine-horse field, followed by America, Gold Medal Dancer, Glorys Last Chance, Pearl Turn, and My Sweet Addiction, who eased late in the stretch.
Kentucky-bred Frivolous is out of the winning Belong to Me mare Sixty Rocketts and is a half sister to grade II-placed Drama Drama.