Abel Tasman likely to have one prep before La Troienne

ARCADIA, Calif. – Abel Tasman, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2017, is getting closer to a return to action, with her main spring goal being the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby weekend.

How she gets there is still to be determined, trainer Bob Baffert said. But based on how far she has progressed, with a five-furlong workout in 1:00.80 on Thursday at Santa Anita, Abel Tasman should have time for at least one prep before the La Troienne.

“She’s doing really well,” Baffert said Friday.

The La Troienne, for older females, takes on added significance this year because it will be run at the same track where the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the championship race for the division, is run six months later. The La Troienne is at 1 1/16 miles, the Distaff at 1 1/8 miles.

Abel Tasman finished second in last year’s Distaff to champion Forever Unbridled in her most recent start. She was turned out at a local farm run by Julie Adair-Stack before coming back into training at Santa Anita, a schedule that was used repeatedly by trainer Richard Mandella with the multiple Eclipse Award winner Beholder.

Baffert’s top older female from last year, Vale Dori, only recently returned to serious training following a lengthy vacation after finishing second in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes last summer at Del Mar. She worked three furlongs at Los Alamitos on Thursday in 38.20 seconds.

“She’s still a ways off,” said Baffert, who said the plan is for Vale Dori to remain in training this year at age 6.