Kruljac debates whether to run Finest City in La Troienne or Humana Distaff

ARCADIA, Calif. – Finest City and trainer Ian Kruljac will race at Churchill Downs for the first time in their careers next week. The question is which race?

Kruljac said Finest City, the champion female sprinter of 2016, will enter two stakes – the Grade 1 La Troienne at 1 1/16 miles next Friday and the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at seven furlongs next Saturday.

“We’re going to enter both races and probably [run in] the Humana,” Kruljac said.

He said a decision will be made after “we see post positions.” Kruljac said Mike Smith will ride the filly in either race.

Finest City finished second last out at Santa Anita in the Grade 1, 1 1/8-mile Santa Margarita. Her two previous starts, also at Santa Anita, were wins in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November and the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes in January.

A winner of five races and $1,125,594 from 16 starts, Finest City will be racing outside California for the first time. Finest City also will be the first Churchill Downs starter for Kruljac. He said the 5-year-old mare will have her final prerace workout at Santa Anita and will ship on Wednesday.