Ahh Chocolate Works Half for Fleur de Lis

Stoneway Farm's homebred Ahh Chocolate worked a half-mile at Churchill Downs June 14 in preparation for her next start in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares June 18 at the Kentucky track.

The Neil Howard-trained Ahh Chocolate, who has an affinity for the dirt surface at Churchill, worked four furlongs in :49 2/5 under exercise rider Joel Dominguez. The 4-year-old Candy Ride   filly won the 1 1/16-mile Allaire DuPont Distaff (gr. III) May 20 at Pimlico Race Course.

"It was just a nice and easy half," Howard told Churchill media officials. "She's holding her form well and doing well."

In her last start at Churchill in November 2015, Ahh Chocolate won the Falls City Handicap (gr. II) at the Fleur de Lis distance of 1 1/8 miles. In her two other local starts, she finished second in the Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) and won an allowance event.

"When she won here last fall she was pretty much on the lead, but we're not looking for that," Howard said. "She usually falls into a tracking position and doesn't get too far back, and she doesn't have to be in one set way. She gets in a comfortable position and if it's a short field, you have to be careful just in case it's slow and there's no company up front."

The field for the Fleur de Lis, a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), could be short; the Churchill racing office lists Brooklynsway, Big Book, Paid Up Subcriber, and Untapable as other possible starters.

Brian Hernandez Jr., who has ridden Ahh Chocolate in all but one of her 12 starts, has the call again. He also is named to ride W.S. Farish's Eagle, a 4-year-old Candy Ride colt, for Howard in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) Saturday night at Churchill.