She's a Julie, Blue Prize, both fans of Churchill, meet in La Troienne Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Steve Asmussen will leave the division-leading Midnight Bisou in the barn Friday, but he will still have a big chance to win the Grade 1, $500,000 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs with She’s a Julie.

She’s a Julie is a three-time Grade 3 stakes winner, most recently taking the Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park in her 4-year-old debut on Feb. 18.

“I thought her first race of the year was as good a race, if not the best race, she’s run to date,” Asmussen said. “She runs well fresh, has trained really nicely at Churchill, has a couple of solid runs over the track.”

She’s a Julie, a daughter of Elusive Quality owned by Whispering Oaks Farm, Team Hanley Racing, Madaket Stables, and Bradley Thoroughbreds, has two wins and a narrow loss from four starts at Churchill. Her only poor performance here came over a sloppy track in her second career start as a 2-year-old.

There is rain in the forecast for Friday, creating the potential for an off track.

“I would rather it not be,” said Asmussen, who has Ricardo Santana Jr. to ride.

No horse in the field likes Churchill Downs more than Blue Prize, a three-time graded stakes winner at Churchill. In fact, her only out-of-the-money finish here came in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, where she finished fourth, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths by winner Monomoy Girl, last year’s 3-year-old champion filly who is recovering from colic.

Trainer Ignacio Correas IV was planning to bring Blue Prize back to the races in the Doubledogdare at Keeneland, but opted to pass due to the potential for rain. Correas noted that Keeneland’s surface tends to get speed-favoring when it’s wet.

He said he plans to run Blue Prize on Friday regardless of track condition.

“Usually at Churchill, they come back to you a little bit,” Correas said. “That’s better for her style. It’s her first race back, she’s training very well. Looking for her to have a very good year.”

Divine Miss Grey is 4 for 5 over a wet track, including a three-length victory in the slop in the Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct in her seasonal debut eight weeks ago.

“Health-wise, she’s probably healthier now than she’s ever been,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “She was a bleeder, and she’s not anymore, so that’s a big factor.”

Secret Spice is coming off an upset win in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita, where she beat Marley’s Freedom and Paradise Woods. She has made her last four starts going a mile around two turns. The La Troienne is run around two turns at 1 1/16 miles.

“I think it’s going to help her,” trainer Richard Baltas said.

Awe Emma, Mopotism, Chocolate Martini, Teresa Z, Golden Award, and Viva Forever complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

She’s a Julie, by Elusive Quality
Last 3 Beyers: 95-82-88

◗ Solid victories in the Iowa Oaks and Remington Park Oaks sandwiched her runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Alabama last summer.

“She’s always been a very talented mare,” Asmussen said. “I thought she put it all together in the middle of last year and has been extremely solid since.”

Blue Prize, by Pure Prize
Last 3 Beyers: 93-94-96

◗ A definite horse-for-course, she must overcome a six-month layoff while facing Grade 1 company

“We’re starting the year with a filly way sharper than last year,” Correas said.

Divine Miss Grey, by Divine Park
Last 3 Beyer: 96-84-89

◗ Though most of her success has come in one-turn races, she has successfully carried her speed around two turns against lesser company.

◗ She won the Grade 2 Chilukki and was second in the Grade 2 Falls City here last fall.

Secret Spice, by Discreet Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 100-78-106

◗ Beholder Mile third-place finisher Paradise Woods came back to win last Saturday’s Santa Margarita at Santa Anita.