Avenue de France gets a chance to go out on her own terms in Matriarch

DEL MAR, Calif. – The retirement of Avenue de France has been postponed until after Sunday’s Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar.

Avenue de France was scheduled to be sold at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale last month, but was withdrawn from the sale after she finished fifth in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes on Oct. 29 at Santa Anita. The loss ended a streak of five first- or second-place finishes in stakes for the 5-year-old mare.

Trainer Leonard Powell said the poor result in the Goldikova was a leading factor in the decision not to sell Avenue de France a few weeks ago. Instead, she is scheduled to be sold at Keeneland in January, he said.

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“She was coming off a bad race and she has an affinity for the turf course at Del Mar,” he said. “She will have a last hurrah and go through the ring in January.”

Avenue de France, who races for Convergence Stable, Madaket Stables, Jeff Benowitz, Wonder Stables, and Mathilde Powell, had an excellent three-race campaign at Del Mar during the summer. Avenue de France won the restricted Osunitas Stakes and the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes, and was second in between those starts in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes.

In the Goldikova Stakes at a mile on turf, Avenue de France was fourth for the first half-mile and faded to finish 7 1/2 lengths behind winner Going Global.

“I’m not sure why she didn’t fire,” Powell said. “She’s better than that.”

The $400,000 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf is the leading race on the final day of the Del Mar autumn meeting. Los Alamitos begins a two-week meeting Dec. 9.

Avenue de France will need a top-class performance to win the Matriarch against a field expected to include Dolce Zel, Eddie’s New Dream, England’s Rose, Hamwood Flier, Pizza Bianca, Regal Glory, and Wakanaka.

Pizza Bianca won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November 2021. Wakanaka won the Fall Harvest Stakes at a mile on turf on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Regal Glory won two Grade 1 races at a mile on turf earlier this year – the Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland and the Just a Game Stakes at Belmont Park – and was 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

The Matriarch is one of five six-figure turf stakes on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s main race is the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby for 3-year-olds, a $400,000 race at 1 1/8 miles.

Cabo Spirit, winner of the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on Oct. 29 at Santa Anita, is part of a group of probable starters that includes Celestial City, Clutch Hitter, Evan Harlan, Handy Dandy, Script, Speaking Scout, War at Sea, Wit, and possibly Slow Down Andy.

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