La Sardane to Perfect Sting Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – La Sardane, winner of the Grade 3 Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont on June 7, will make her next start in the $100,000 Perfect Sting Stakes here on June 30, trainer Neil Drysdale said Sunday.

“I think I prefer to race her rather than training and training,” Drysdale said.

Drysdale was at Belmont Sunday to watch La Sardane and the 3-year-old filly Toinette put in workouts over the Belmont turf course.

La Sardane went a quick half-mile in 47.85 seconds.

“So many times, the first work back after a race they’re still a little bit keen,” said Drysdale, who added that the 4-year-old La Sardane needs to go a little slower in her breezes.

“She needs to gallop on,” he said.

Toinette, who beat Rushing Fall in the Grade 3 Edgewood at Churchill on May 4, went a half-mile in 49.91 seconds, but she galloped out extremely strong and extremely far. She is preparing for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 7.

“I told him to gallop out,” Drysdale said. “She was going as fast galloping out. It looked to me like she didn’t slow down at all.”

Drysdale left for England on Sunday where he will attend one day of the Royal Ascot meeting as well as visit family. Drysdale will be back in New York next Sunday to supervise the next round of works for both La Sardane and Toinette.