Farrell to flash speed again

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Farrell played come-catch-me in her last start, and it nearly worked. The speedy filly once again figures as the front-runner when she faces eight others Saturday night at Churchill Downs in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap, and trainer Wayne Catalano hopes there will be no looking back.

“She’s done everything right since her last race,” Catalano said, referring to a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 La Troienne here May 4. “She’s coming into this about as good as I can get her.”

Aside from the $200,000 purse, the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis offers an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 3 at Churchill. It’s an incentive that resulted in an excellent race, with Valadorna, Blue Prize, and Mopotism being the most capable opposition

for Farrell, who will be ridden by Catalano’s son-in-law Channing Hill. Farrell breaks from the outside post as the 119-pound highweight.

“There’s plenty of room to get over from out there,” said Catalano. “Shouldn’t be a problem.”

Valadorna (post 7, 118, Brian Hernandez Jr.) is no stranger to the Breeders’ Cup, having finished second in the 2016 BC Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita for trainer Mark Casse. However, it wasn’t until the April 20 Doubledogdare at Keeneland that the Stonestreet Stables homebred actually won a graded stakes, and Casse assistant David Carroll said the filly hasn’t missed a beat in her training since then.

“I’m very happy with her,” said Carroll. “We’re looking forward to a big run from her.”

Likewise, Blue Prize (post 3, 118, Jose Ortiz), a romping winner of the Grade 2 Falls City at Churchill last fall, has fared well since her last start, which came at Keeneland, including a half-mile breeze there last weekend.

“It will be good to have a race near home,” said trainer Ignacio Correas, alluding to how Blue Prize has raced at Aqueduct, Oaklawn, and Pimlico in her three starts this year.

Mopotism (post 2, 118, Mario Gutierrez) ships in from California for Doug O’Neill for yet another crack at top company. She has raced in graded events in all but four of her 18 starts.

The balance of the Fleur de Lis field is Fuhriously Kissed (post 1, 115, C.J. McMahon), Streamline (post 4, 116, Chris Landeros), Song of Spring (post 5, 117, Ricardo Santana Jr.), Awestruck (post 6, 115, Irad Ortiz Jr.), and Apologynotaccepted (post 8, 117, Julien Leparoux).

As for other speed to keep Farrell honest, Awestruck and Apologynotaccepted both have early foot, so tactics from their riders figure to play into the outcome.

This is the 43rd running of the Fleur de Lis, named for the insignia that represents the city of Louisville. The 2017 winner was Forever Unbridled, the eventual BC Distaff winner and divisional champion for Dallas Stewart.

The Fleur de Lis directly precedes the Stephen Foster as the seventh of 11 races, with post time set for 9:05 p.m. Eastern. Both races will be shown live on NBC Sports Network during a 90-minute broadcast beginning at 8:30.