Free Like a Girl being pointed toward rematch with Thorpedo Anna in La Troienne

Free Like a Girl emerged from her runner-up finish in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn last Saturday in good order and is scheduled to make her next start in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs, trainer Chasey Deville-Pomier said Wednesday.

The Grade 1, $1 million La Troienne will be run May 2. Thorpedo Anna, the reigning Horse of the Year who won the Apple Blossom by 4 1/4 lengths, is also being pointed for the La Troienne, according to her trainer, Kenny McPeek.

Free Like a Girl returned to her Evangeline Downs base following the Apple Blossom and will likely ship next week to Kentucky, said Deville-Pomier. The barn plans to bring a small string of four to five runners to town, including some promising 2-year-olds.

Free Like a Girl is the all-time richest Louisiana-bred with earnings of more than $2.4 million. She was second in last year’s La Troienne after running third in the Apple Blossom.

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Free Like a Girl is a 21-time winner and she was royally miffed after her runner-up finish in this year’s Apple Blossom, according to Deville-Pomier.

“She was cutting up in the stall the other day,” she said. “She was not happy. She was mad.

“She says, ‘If I don’t see the lights and I don’t see the camera in the winner’s circle, I know I didn’t win.’ ”

Free Like a Girl is 6 and while conversations have been had about her future as a broodmare with the breeding season in full swing, no decisions have been made on retirement from racing, said Deville-Pomier.

“We’ve just gone day by day,” she said. “The minute she tells me she doesn’t want to run anymore, she’s done. Until then, we’re going to let her do her thing.”

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