She's a Julie prevails in La Troienne

May 03, 2019 Churchill Downs Communications

LOUISVILLE, KY (Friday, May 3, 2019) – Whispering Oaks Farm, Team Hanley, Tim and Anna Cambron, Bradley Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables’ She’s a Julie eased past Secret Spice in deep stretch to post a half-length victory in the 34th running of the La Troienne (GI) Presented by Inside Access from Chase for fillies and mares.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., She’s a Julie covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:43.58.

Awe Emma and Secret Spice dueled through early fractions of :24.01 and :47.92 as She’s a Julie tracked in third. Entering the stretch, Secret Spice put away Awe Emma but was quickly challenged by She’s a Julie.

The two raced as a team through the lane with She’s a Julie inching clear in the final yards.

The victory was worth $297,600 to the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Elusive Quality out of the Dubai Millennium (GB) mare Kydd Gloves. With her first Grade I victory and fourth graded-stakes score overall, She’s a Julie boosted her earnings to $878,130 with a record of 13-6-2-1.

She’s a Julie returned $12, $6 and $3.80. Secret Spice, ridden by Geovanni Franco, paid $6.20 and $3.60 with favored Blue Prize (ARG) finishing another 3 ½ lengths back in third and paying $2.80 to show under Joe Bravo.

It was another head back to Mopotism in fourth with Awe Emma, Viva Forever, Chocolate Martini, Divine Miss Grey and Teresa Z following in order.

LA TROIENNE QUOTES

RICARDO SANTANA JR. (rider of She’s a Julie, winner) – 'I had plenty of horse at the three-eighths. I had a little patience for a hole to open. A hole opened really well and when I asked her she gave me a really nice run. We felt like there was plenty of speed today. I told (trainer) Steve (Asmussen), 'I want to stay behind the speed.' Steve said, 'You know the filly really well. Do what you can.' I put her behind horses and she relaxed really well. When she picked up the bridle at the three-eighths, she started running.'

STEVE ASMUSSEN (trainer of She’s a Julie, winner) – “I felt this would be the right spot for her. I got extremely nervous with all the rain this morning, with a sloppy track. It seemed like her sloppy track run last season caused the dip. But she’s a Grade I-winning mare and deservedly so. I got concerned going into the second turn, it seemed that she had to wait for traffic a bit. But she showed her heart. She’s a monster physically, and it just shows that time helped her come together.”

GEOVANNI FRANCO (rider of Secret Spice, runner-up) – “She ran great. She gave me a big try. She got a little tired at the end. That long stretch caught up to her.”

RICHARD BALTAS (trainer of Secret Spice, runner-up) – “She ran huge. I’m not disappointed. I thought she’d win. But that stretch here is so long.”

JOE BRAVO (rider of Blue Prize (ARG), third) – “I am proud of her. I think the extra distance will help her in the future. That was her first start back this year. The first two finishers pulled away but if you watch our gallop out, it was great. I have great hope for her next start.”