With the race lacking an opponent, the July 1 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Ellis Park is not lacking in drama. Dropped from eight entrants to a field of just three, the race took place with a distance of just one gap between the participants, with the first-place winner Pauline’s Pearl rally to win the final strides to compete A Mo Reay And Bellamore .
The winner scored three-quarters of the distance with Bellamore leading A Mo Reay to cross the ropes in second, although the outcome between the side finishers was determined by the race managers, who had ruled that Bellamore obstructed A Mo Reay for drifting out for a long haul. That lifted A Mo Reay from third to second and resulted in Bellamore being demoted from second to third.
A field of three fillings and mares competing Fleur de Lis stake in Ellis . Park
Pauline’s Pearl, second-choice in the race 2-1 behind the much-popular A Mo Reay, won on Saturday although moderate pace appeared to favor Bellamore running first and A Mo Reay chasing speed. But under the control of jockey Joel Rosario, Pauline’s Pearl was able to slowly move past the leaders on the second turn and down the ramp to dominate the 1/8 mile race. The winner is timed at 1:49.59 for the distance after the divisions of :24:49, :48.06 and 1:11.28 set by Bellamore.
ONE @JockeyCam look at the ending of the $400,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) as @JRosarioJockey guide Pauline’s Pearl to victory. pic.twitter.com/ImumOd1x1L
– TVG (@TVG) July 1, 2023
Pauline’s Pearl, her 5-year-old daughter is raised at the home of faucet coached by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, paid $6.52 to win.
Scott Blasi, Asmussen’s assistant, said: “There’s a group of quality mares there that just laid down and she’s impressed. “But I was very pleased with Joel getting her out of the gate so well and putting her in a position where there was a chance to win and when he turned her over, got home, she ran away. .”
Videotapes
In Saturday’s win, Pauline’s Pearl rebounded from a few lackluster attempts to finish seventh in the Beholder Mile (G1) when sent west to Santa Anita . Park and when he finished sixth in La Troienne Stakes (G1) May 5 at Churchill Downs. Those races after the victory in the Sam Houston Classic (G3) at Sam Houston Racecourse on her first day of the year.
Last year at age 4, she won the La Troienne and Sam Houston Classic, also with Rosario in the saddle. She was given a break for the second half of the year after finishing third in the 2022 Fleur de Lis.
“She’s a special horse. She’s very smart,” Rosario said. “Every time I try to ride her, I just try to get along with her. She’s the one doing the job.”
The Fleur de Lis, a longtime fixture at Churchill Downs, was moved to Ellis Park this year when the second half of the Churchill Downs spring encounter was moved to the Henderson, Ky., track, following a series of events horseback at Churchill Downs.
As part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen programme, Fleur de Lis has provided a tiered financial reward for 1-2-3 finishers applied to fees for competing in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff ( G1) on November 4 in Santa Anita.
Blue-blooded Pauline’s Pearl was among four winners and three bet horses produced from Stonestreet’s Grade 1 award-winning Dixie Union mare hot Dixie chicken . The most recent ponies among the 16 year old mares is a 2 year old Structure a pony named Mister Lincoln and a yearning Quality Sugar pony.
Videotapes: S. (G2)
