Havre de Grace worked at Churchill Downs ahead of a start in the La Troienne Stakes
The 2011 reigning Horse of the Year, Havre de Grace, skipped an opportunity to defend her title in the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park because of an unfair weight distribution issue, which prompted her connections to look elsewhere for the 5-year-old mare’s second start of the new season.
Owned by the Fox Hill Farms, which is managed by Rick Porter, Havre de Grace is now pointed toward the Grade 2, $300,000 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs to be held on 4 May, 2012, over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on the venue’s dirt track.
The race so far, including Havre de Grace, has reeled in four 3-year-old and above fillies and mares.
Larry Jones trained mare now has a start which suits her requirements, and for the she worked at Churchill Downs on 22 April, 2012, going five furlongs over the Churchill Downs fast dirt track and covering the distance in 1 minute and 2/5 seconds under exercise rider Jen Brasser.
“It was a good work,” trainer Larry Jones said. “It was her first work in two weeks and she will work again next Sunday (April 29).”
The Kentucky bred daughter of Saint Liam galloped out six furlongs in 1 minute and 14 3/5 seconds, not before her work was broken down into fractions 12 2/5 seconds, quarter mile in 24 2/5 seconds, 36 2/5 seconds and half mile in 48 seconds flat, as her move was fifth fastest out of 47 that day over the same distance.
Out of mare Easter Bunnette by Carson City, Havre de Grace kicked off her 2012 campaign in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes, and she won that race at Fair Grounds Race Course on 17 March, 2012, at about 1 1/16 miles.
Juanita finished second and Sterling Madame finished third on the day, as Havre de Grace scooped her first win of the season with the winning time of 1 minute and 42.79 seconds.
Havre de Grace could have made her second start in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap, but her connections thought the weight assignment was unfair and unjust, which prompted them to start their star mare in the La Troienne Stakes.
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