Abel Tasman to make 2018 debut in La Troienne

ARCADIA, Calif. – Abel Tasman, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2017, will have her 2018 debut in the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 4, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Friday.

As far back as February, Baffert mentioned the $350,000 La Troienne Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares as a springtime goal for Abel Tasman, who has not raced since a second to Forever Unbridled in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar last November.

Baffert considered a prep race for Abel Tasman, but the four-time Grade 1 winner will now debut this year in the La Troienne, which is on the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks. Abel Tasman won the 2017 Kentucky Oaks.

Abel Tasman resumed workouts in early February. She worked seven furlongs in 1:27.40 at Santa Anita on Wednesday.

“She looks pretty good,” Baffert said Friday.

Owned by China Horse Club International and Clearsky Farms, Abel Tasman has won 6 of 11 starts and earned $1,995,060.

Baffert said that Dream Tree, the three-time stakes winner who is unbeaten in four starts, is walking at his stable. Dream Tree is midway through a scheduled two-month break for an undisclosed injury diagnosed in mid-March.