Pauline's Pearl gets first Grade 1 win in La Troienne Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Pauline’s Pearl continued her ascension in the older female dirt division by getting her first Grade 1 victory Friday and ending two significant streaks in the process.

Despite a wide trip under Joel Rosario, Pauline’s Pearl ran down the loose-on-the-lead and 4-5 favorite Shedaresthedevil to win the $750,000 La Troienne Stakes by a half-length at Churchill Downs. The victory was the third in the last four starts for Pauline’s Pearl and handed Shedaresthedevil her first defeat at Churchill Downs in six starts here. That streak included a victory in last year’s La Troienne.

Pauline’s Pearl also gave Asmussen his first victory in Kentucky since Nov. 27 at Churchill where he won the fall meet with 20 victories. He had gone 0 for 81 in Kentucky since, 41 of those starts happening at Turfway Park.

“Isn’t that weird?” Asmussen said of his skein.

Pauline’s Pearl had finished a length in front of Shedaresthedevil when the two were second and third behind Ce Ce in the Grade 2 Azeri at Oaklawn.

:: For the first time ever, our premium past performances are free! Get free Formulator now!

Friday, as was the case in the Azeri, Shedaresthedevil, under Florent Geroux, was able to control the pace up front. Despite a bobble at the break, Shedaresthedevil got a length clear of Ava’s Grace through a quarter in 24.02 seconds, a half-mile in 47.08, and six furlongs in 1:11.78.

Pauline’s Pearl, not sharp away from the gate, was used a little by Rosario to get into fourth position, albeit a bit wide, entering the first turn.

Turning into the stretch, Pauline’s Pearl and Ava’s Grace both made a run at Shedaresthedevil, with Pauline’s Pearl gradually wearing the seven-time graded stakes winner down. Shedaresthedevil finished 2 3/4 lengths clear of Ava’s Grace. Battle Bling was fourth, followed by She’s All Wolfe, Jilted Bride, and Temper Time.

Pauline’s Pearl, a daughter of Tapit owned and bred by Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stable, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.46 and returned $5.80 as the second choice. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“Joel did a wonderful move going into the first turn, a touch wide – put her in position and then when they lined out down the backside she had her chance and proved narrowly best,” Asmussen said.

Rosario said he had to move a little early on Pauline’s Pearl “because she kind of has a steady kick, it takes a little time to get her going and then she was a little bit wide turning for home, but she had momentum and she did great.”

Neither Geroux nor trainer Brad Cox used the early bobble by Shedaresthedevil out of the gate as an excuse for her runner-up finish.

“I don’t know that there’s much of an excuse, it looked like we were a length behind that filly in our last start and a half-length behind today,” Cox said. “It was a good effort, it just wasn’t a winning effort.”Pauline’s Pearl and Clairiere give Asmussen and Stonestreet two Grade 1-winning older dirt females. Asmussen said he would look to keep the two fillies separate, with Pauline’s Pearl likely to run in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 11 at Belmont Park.