Tourny makes American debut this week
DEL MAR, Calif. - Tourny, a Group 3 winner in France last year, will make her American debut in an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf in Wednesday’s third race at Del Mar.
Tourny’s appearance on Wednesday has been highly anticipated for months by owners Pete and Kosta Hronis and trainer John Sadler.
Tourny, 3, was purchased for approximately $440,000 at the Arqana Arc Sale in France last October on behalf of Hronis Racing, but did not start earlier this year because of minor injuries, Sadler said.
“She’s had some issues,” Sadler said. “It’s been stop, start, stop, start.”
Sadler said Tourny began showing steady progress when she began working on turf at Del Mar in late July.
In France, Tourny won 2 of 6 starts, including the Group 3 Prix de Cabourg against males at six furlongs on turf at Deauville last August.
She was later third in the Group 1 Prix Morny against males at Deauville.
In Wednesday’s race, Tourny will be part of a field of six. Sadler said the sprint distance will be ideal for Tourny, who is by the Danzig stallion Country Reel.
“I think she can run up to a mile,” he said. “I think she’s limited on how far she’d like to run. She has beautiful action and a long stride. She’s not huge, but she moves well.”
Tourny’s competition includes Snow Cloud, who won an allowance race at five furlongs on turf in a 41-1 upset on July 31; and Codacious, who was third in the Spring Fever Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares on dirt at Santa Anita on July 4.