On Fire Baby Heads Six in Fleur de Lis 'Cap
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Anita Cauley's homebred On Fire Baby, winner of the May 2 La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, heads a field of six older fillies and mares for the Louisville oval's $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap Presented by Etihad Airways (gr. II).
One of four graded stakes on the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) card June 14, the 1 1/8 mile Fleur de Lis comes up for On Fire Baby as the 5-year-old Smoke Glacken mare has finally returned to form. Before winning the La Troienne she was second to multiple grade I winner Close Hatches in the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 12, an event she won in 2013 for trainer Gary "Red Dog" Hartlage.
Regular rider Joe Johnson gets the mount on the 122-pound highweight, who leaves post 4. On Fire Baby is 3-for-5 in graded stakes at Churchill, where she won the Pocahontas Stakes (gr. II) and the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) as a 2-year-old in 2011.
W.D. Cubbedge's Molly Morgan was runner-up by 2 3/4 lengths to On Fire Baby in the 1 1/16-mile La Troienne, flattening out in the drive after closing in the four path. Corey Lanerie rides the Dale Romans trainee from the 2 hole. A 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper , she carries 116.
Preston Stables' Flashy American is another who has fared well at Churchill, where she won the Locust Grove Stakes last September. The 5-year-old Flashy Bull mare won the April 19 Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) last time out at Hawthorne Race Course. Julien Leparoux gets the mount from the outside for trainer Ken McPeek.
Trainer Bob Baffert sends multiple grade II winner Fiftyshadesofhay in off a May 11 victory in the Ruffian Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park. Winner of the Iowa Oaks (gr. III) and the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) in 2013, the 4-year-old Pulpit filly drew post 5 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.
G. Watts Humphery Jr.'s homebred Frivolous, runner-up in the May 24 Arlington Matron Stakes (gr. III) on the Arlington Park Polytrack, and Peachtree Stable's 2013 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes winner Ondine complete the field.
$200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap Presented by Etihad Airways (gr. II, Race 7, approximate post 9:05 p.m. EDT), fillies & mares 3YOs & Up, 1 1/8 miles (dirt)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Ondine (FL), S. Bridgmohan, 116, B H Cox
2. Molly Morgan (KY), C.J. Lanerie, 116, D L Romans
3. Frivolous (KY), J. Graham, 114, V H Oliver
4. On Fire Baby (KY), J.M. Johnson, 122, G G Hartlage
5. Fiftyshadesofhay (KY), J.R. Velazquez, 121, B Baffert
6. Flashy American (KY), J.R. Leparoux, 119, K G McPeek