Lexington Herald Leader Logo

Curalina much the best in Grade I La Troienne | Lexington Herald Leader

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • All News
    • Business
    • Communities
    • Counties
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Lexington
    • Local
    • Most Wanted
    • Nation/World
    • News Photos
    • News Videos
    • Politics
    • Searchable Databases
    • State
    • Watchdog
    • Columns
    • Tom Eblen
    • All Sports
    • UK Sports
    • College Sports
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • High School
    • Horses
    • Kentucky Speedway
    • Lexington Legends
    • Reds
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NASCAR
    • NFL
    • Sports Photos
    • Sports Videos
    • Columns
    • John Clay's Columns
    • Mark Story
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • All UK Sports
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • Baseball
    • Basketball - Men
    • Basketball - Women
    • Recruiting
    • Ex-Cats
    • Football
    • UK Photos
    • UK Videos
    • More UK Sports
    • Columns
    • John Clay's Blog
    • Mark Story
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • All Entertainment
    • Books
    • Celebrities
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Events Calendar
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Restaurants
    • Stage & Dance
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Entertainment Photos
    • Entertainment Videos
    • News Blogs
    • Kentucky Weather
    • Photo Archive
    • Sports Blogs
    • John Clay's Blog
    • High School
    • UK Football
    • UK Men's Basketball
    • UK Women's Basketball
    • Lexington Legends
    • Entertainment Blogs
    • Walter Tunis on Music
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Joel Pett
    • Letters to the Editor
    • National Columnists
    • Op-Ed
    • Submit a Letter
    • All Living
    • Celebrations
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Fru-Gal: Deb Morris
    • Health & Medicine
    • Home & Garden
    • Paul Prather
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Readers' Choice
    • Kentucky Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Customer Service
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • E-edition
    • Page Reprints
    • Photo Reprints
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Site Information
    • Advertise With Us
    • Archives
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Google+
    • Today's Circulars
    • Classifieds
    • Jobs
    • Cars
    • Homes
    • Homeseller
    • Legal Notices
  • Place an Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Horses

Curalina much the best in Grade I La Troienne

By Alicia Wincze Hughes

awincze@herald-leader.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

May 06, 2016 02:49 PM

Louisville

Aron Wellman admits he is approaching this season with something to prove.

The president of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners felt more than a little slighted when the group’s multiple Grade I-winning filly Curalina was not even a finalist in the Eclipse Award balloting for champion 3-year-old filly of 2015.

If she continues to perform the way she did during her 7 1/2-length triumph in Friday’s Grade I, $300,000 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs, Wellman’s belief that her credentials stand her among the best in her division will become indisputable.

“I’d be lying if we said we were not disappointed with the lack of respect she was shown last year in the voting for champion 3-year-old,” Wellman said. “You know, we just want what’s best for the filly but we are entering this year with a little bit of a chip on our shoulder, and I think she made a pretty darn big statement today.”

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Lexington Herald-Leader

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

In her first start since running third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last October 30, Curalina could not have been more emphatic as she kicked on when roused by jockey John Velazquez to earn the third Grade I win of her nine-race career.

The 1 1/16-miles La Troienne was one of five graded stakes on the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks.

Few bring horses back off a layoff the way seven-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Todd Pletcher does. While Pletcher and Eclipse Thoroughbreds originally looked at starting Curalina back in the Grade III Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland on April 22, they thought couple more weeks of time and the possibility of a more prestigious result in the La Troienne would pay dividends.

“Anytime you come in to a Grade I off a six-month layoff you’re going to have your concerns,” Wellman said. “But when you have Todd Pletcher on your team, anything is possible. He’s not just the best trainer in the game, he’s the best of all time and he had her prepared brilliantly.

“We considered the Doubledogdare and...Todd said ‘We can run, but she’s probably a work or two short for that.’ And to run in a Grade III for $150,000 when we can have three weeks and two good works to run in a Grade I, I think even Todd and I could figure that out.”

With little speed in the six-horse La Troienne field, Velazquez had Curalina perfectly positioned in second just off of pacesetter Angela Renee through tepid early fractions of 24.24 and 48.38. The 4-year-old daughter of Curlin rolled up to stick her nose in front at the head of the lane and then exploded under a handful of taps from Velazquez en route to hitting the wire in 1:42.45 with 20-to-1 shot Engaginglee getting up for second.

“Once I got my position, I made sure to stay there,” Velezquez said. “I wanted to keep (4-to-5 favorite) Sheer Drama in a tight spot. When we came to the lane, my horse just took off. There was no competition coming after her.”

Sheer Drama, winner of the Grade I Madison at Keeneland on April 9, finished third.

“I was talking to (jockey) Joe (Bravo) and he said she never really took a good hold,” said David Fawkes, trainer of Sheer Drama. “I don’t think she likes the track. She never gets a real, good solid footing.”

Curalina improved her record to five wins from nine career start with $1,190,940 in earnings. A start in the Grade I Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park on June 11 is likely next.

“She can do anything,” Wellman said. “She won the (G1) Acorn going a one-turn mile at Belmont and she’s won going 1 1/8th-miles. I don’t think she has any distance limitations. If anything when she was going 1 1/8th-miles last year in the Beldame and in the Breeders’ Cup, she ran good races, I think she was just getting tired at the end of the year there. Touch wood, she comes out of this well and we’ll be ready (for the Phipps).”

Alicia Wincze Hughes: 859-231-1676, @horseracinghl

  Comments  

Videos

Jockey nearly falls from horse but makes miraculous recovery

Breeders’ Cup trainer has a Kentucky football rooting interest

View More Video

Trending Stories

Principal of Kentucky high school charged after not reporting abuse of students, police say

February 20, 2019 12:32 PM

9 things Kentucky teachers should know about the educator-proposed pension plan

February 21, 2019 12:44 PM

‘Top Chef’ Kentucky’s Graham Elliot is in town and you’ll never guess where he ate.

February 21, 2019 12:14 PM

In ‘really good spirits,’ Kentucky’s Travis sets target date for return

February 21, 2019 05:51 PM

Friendly exchange precedes fierce exchange as Kentucky survives at Missouri

February 20, 2019 12:44 AM

Read Next

Latest News

Kentucky Derby, Preakness winner Silver Charm turning 25

The Associated Press

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 21, 2019 04:55 AM

Hall of Fame thoroughbred Silver Charm is celebrating his silver anniversary birthday, and Old Friends retirement facility is hosting a party for him.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Lexington Herald-Leader

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE HORSES

Festival with ‘A-list music’ coming to Keeneland via producers of Forecastle, Bonnaroo

Fayette County

Festival with ‘A-list music’ coming to Keeneland via producers of Forecastle, Bonnaroo

February 20, 2019 10:59 AM
‘Top Chef’ Kentucky: Down the stretch they come at Keeneland

TV

‘Top Chef’ Kentucky: Down the stretch they come at Keeneland

February 20, 2019 12:12 PM

Sports

Jockey Craig Perret among 9 finalists for racing HOF

February 14, 2019 02:33 PM
As 2019 prep races heat up, which horses are the top Kentucky Derby contenders?

John Clay

As 2019 prep races heat up, which horses are the top Kentucky Derby contenders?

February 12, 2019 05:34 PM
Horseracing to resume in Britain after equine flu contained

Living

Horseracing to resume in Britain after equine flu contained

February 11, 2019 06:47 PM

Health & Medicine

New blow to horse racing as more equine flu cases announced

February 10, 2019 08:23 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Lexington Herald Leader App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Place a Classified Ad
  • Local Deals
  • Digital Solutions
  • Media Kit
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story