La Rascasse to be sidelined for remainder of the year
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The highs and lows of a trainer were evident in the William Walden barn on Thursday, as he had to send one promising filly to the sidelines in the morning while unveiling a potential future turf stakes horse in the afternoon.
La Rascasse, a filly who had won her first two starts, including the Monomoy Girl Stakes in June, was scratched from Saturday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and will be sidelined for the remainder of the year due to a physical issue.
“She had a little setback, she’ll go to the farm for a few months, she’ll be back next year,” Walden said Friday morning. “Just unfortunate timing, but she’ll be okay. Super nice filly. Hopefully, she doesn’t need the 3-year-old restricted year to get her graded stakes, just try and get it next year.”
Thursday afternoon, Walden sent out Side Quest to a 5 3/4-length victory in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden turf race restricted to 2-year-old fillies who sold for $65,000 at auction or did not reach their reserve set at that price. Side Quest was purchased for $65,000.
After finishing fourth in a dirt race at Churchill Downs on June 20, Side Quest, a daughter of Charlatan, stepped up her game on turf.
“She was one of the first 2-year-olds we got in at Palm Meadows. She rang every bell but yesterday she seemed to put it all together,” Walden said. “It’s hard to win by six turf sprinting. She came out if it good, looked great this morning, a little tired. We’ll see what the ownership wants to do and go from there.”
One option for Side Quest is the $200,000 Bolton Landing here on Aug. 20.
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