La Troienne Stakes
This article is about the annual event inaugurated in 1986 and run through 2006 as the Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap, in 2007 as the Louisville Breeders' Cup Stakes, in 2008 as the Louisville Stakes, and in 2009 as the Louisville Distaff Stakes. For the race for three-year-old fillies known from 1967 to 2008 as the La Troienne Stakes, see
Eight Belles Stakes .
Horse race
The La Troienne Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, age four and older, over a distance of 1+ 1 ⁄16 miles held annually in early May on the Kentucky Oaks day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The current purse is $500,000.[ 1]
History
The event was inaugurated on May 3, 1986, on Kentucky Derby Day as the Louisville Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap at a distance of 1+ 1 ⁄8 miles for three-year-olds and older and was won by the favorite, five-year-old gelding Hopeful Word in small field of four starters.[ 2]
The following year the event's conditions were changed to fillies & mares that were four years old or older.[ 3]
The event with Budweiser and Breeders' Cup sponsorship and added incentives to base purses attracted good quality runners. The event was classified as a Grade III in 1988 and it was upgraded once more in 1990.[ 1]
The event was renamed to Louisville Breeders' Cup Stakes in 2007, Louisville Stakes in 2008 and Louisville Distaff Stakes in 2009.[ 1] In 2010 the race was renamed after the famous broodmare La Troienne to the La Troienne Stakes .[ 4]
This event was upgraded to a Grade I for its 2014.[ 5]
Of the more notable runnings of this event was the 2010 edition which saw the heavily favored 2009 US Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra returning to Churchill Downs for the first time since her 2009 Kentucky Oaks victory trying to lead all the way but was defeated by Unbridled Belle by a head.[ 4]
The 1996 winner Escena went on to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff and become US Champion Older Female Horse . The 2008 winner Ginger Punch won this event easily as the reigning 2007 US Champion Older Female Horse as an overwhelming favorite.[ 6]
Records
Speed record
1:42.09 – Authenticity (2013)
Margins
7+ 3 ⁄4 lengths – You (2003)
Most wins
No horse has won this race more than once.
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by an owner
Winners
Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
Grade
Ref
La Troienne Stakes
2024
Idiomatic
5
Florent Geroux
Brad H. Cox
Juddmonte Farms
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.24
$1,000,000
I
[ 7]
2023
Played Hard
5
John R. Velazquez
Philip A. Bauer
Rigney Racing
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.48
$750,000
I
[ 8]
2022
Pauline's Pearl
4
Joel Rosario
Steven M. Asmussen
Stonestreet Stables
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.46
$750,000
I
[ 9]
2021
Shedaresthedevil
4
Florent Geroux
Brad H. Cox
Flurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing Limited & Big Aut Farms
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.69
$500,000
I
[ 10]
2020
Monomoy Girl
5
Florent Geroux
Brad H. Cox
Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group & Bethlehem Stables
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.14
$500,000
I
[ 11]
2019
She's a Julie
4
Ricardo Santana Jr.
Steven M. Asmussen
Whispering Oaks Farm, Team Hanley, Tim & Anna Cambron, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.58
$500,000
I
[ 12]
2018
Salty
4
Tyler Gaffalione
Mark E. Casse
Gary Barber , Baccari Racing Stable & Chester Prince
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.78
$350,000
I
[ 13]
2017
Big World
4
Florent Geroux
Thomas M. Amoss
Maggi Moss
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.91
$300,000
I
[ 14]
2016
Curalina
4
John R. Velazquez
Todd A. Pletcher
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.45
$300,000
I
[ 15]
2015
Molly Morgan
6
Corey J. Lanerie
Dale L. Romans
William D. Cubbedge
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.25
$300,000
I
[ 16]
2014
On Fire Baby
5
Joe M. Johnson
Gary G. Hartlage
Anita Cauley
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.48
$327,000
I
[ 17]
2013
Authenticity
6
John R. Velazquez
Todd A. Pletcher
Padua Stables
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.09
$335,100
II
[ 18]
2012
Juanita
4
Ramon A. Dominguez
Michael J. Maker
William S. & Graydon Patterson
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.82
$327,000
II
[ 19]
2011
Blind Luck
4
Garrett K. Gomez
Jerry Hollendorfer
Mark DeDomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo & Jerry Hollendorfer
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.93
$339,900
II
[ 20]
2010
Unrivaled Belle
4
Kent J. Desormeaux
William I. Mott
Peter Vegso & Gary Seidler
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.97
$418,800
II
[ 21]
Louisville Distaff Stakes
2009
Miss Isella
4
Calvin H. Borel
Ian R. Wilkes
Domino Stud of Lexington
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.75
$379,700
II
[ 22]
Louisville Stakes
2008
Ginger Punch
5
Rafael Bejarano
Robert J. Frankel
Stronach Stables
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.08
$268,200
II
[ 6]
Louisville Breeders' Cup Stakes
2007
Fiery Pursuit
4
Calvin H. Borel
D. Wayne Lukas
Overbrook Farm
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.11
$305,197
II
[ 23]
Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap
2006
Oonagh Maccool (IRE)
4
Rafael Bejarano
Todd A. Pletcher
Charles H. Wacker III
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.96
$271,000
II
[ 24]
2005
Shadow Cast
4
Robby Albarado
Neil J. Howard
William S. Farish III
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.43
$336,300
II
[ 25]
2004
Lead Story
5
Calvin H. Borel
Carl A. Nafzger
A. Stephen Miles Jr.
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.37
$327,000
II
[ 26]
2003
You
4
Jerry D. Bailey
Robert J. Frankel
Edmund A. Gann
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.21
$325,500
II
[ 27]
2002
Spain
5
Jerry D. Bailey
D. Wayne Lukas
The Thoroughbred Corporation
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.93
$332,700
II
[ 28]
2001
Saudi Poetry
4
Victor Espinoza
Bob Baffert
The Thoroughbred Corporation
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.53
$279,000
II
[ 29]
2000
Heritage of Gold
5
Shane Sellers
Thomas M. Amoss
Jack Garey
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.99
$255,250
II
[ 30]
1999
Silent Eskimo
4
Calvin H. Borel
Bobby C. Barnett
John A. Franks
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.82
$268,250
II
[ 31]
1998
Escena
5
Jerry D. Bailey
William I. Mott
Allen E. Paulson
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.84
$287,750
II
[ 32]
1997
Halo America
7
Calvin H. Borel
Bobby C. Barnett
John A. Franks
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.78
$222,600
II
[ 33]
1996
Jewel Princess
4
Chris McCarron
Wallace Dollase
Richard J. Stephen
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.50
$220,000
II
[ 34]
Louisville Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap
1995
Fit to Lead
5
Kent Desormeaux
Richard E. Mandella
Jim Colbert , Randall D. Hubbard , Connie Sczesny
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.46
$212,500
II
[ 35]
1994
One Dreamer
6
Gary Stevens
Thomas F. Proctor
Glen Hill Farm
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.73
$210,200
II
[ 36]
1993
Quilma (CHI)
6
José A. Santos
Claude R. McGaughey III
Tri-Honors Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.61
$92,800
II
[ 37]
1992
Fowda
4
Pat Valenzuela
Richard J. Lundy
Allen E. Paulson
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.16
$155,000
II
[ 38]
1991
Fit for a Queen
5
Jerry D. Bailey
Steven C. Penrod
Hermitage Farm
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.13
$156,200
II
[ 39]
1990
Connie's Gift
4
Pat Day
Neil J. Howard
William S. Farish III & William S. Kilroy
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:45.80
$154,500
II
[ 40]
1989
Darien Miss
4
Patrick A. Johnson
George R. Arnold II
Taylor Asbury
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:46.00
$155,000
III
[ 41]
1988
By Land By Sea
5
Fernando Toro
Gary F. Jones
Jayeff B Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.20
$154,150
III
[ 42]
1987
Queen Alexandra
5
Don Brumfield
George M. Baker
Rosalind Rosenthal
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.80
$154,300
[ 43]
1986
Hopeful Word
5
Pat Day
Carl Bowman
James Clifton, Robert Doll & Barrett Morris
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:49.40
$153,550
†3YO & up [ 2]
Notes:
† Inaugural event in 1986 the conditions of the event were for horses three years old and older
See also
References