Ungraded Shawnee comes up strong with Envoutante, Paris Lights

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Maybe the Saturday stakes at Churchill Downs with the most quality is the Shawnee, which matches multiple graded winners Envoutante and Paris Lights in a field of eight fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles.

Envoutante, a romping winner of the Falls City here last fall for trainer Ken McPeek, comes off a runner-up finish behind Shedaresthedevil in the Grade 1 La Troienne, an April 30 race in which Paris Lights had a four-race win streak snapped when sixth.

McPeek said the Shawnee is intended as a stepping-stone to the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis on closing day, June 26. “She loves this track,” he said. “She ran a big one in the La Troienne.”

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From the rail, this is the Shawnee field: Microcap, La Renoleta, Istan Council, Miss Bigly, High Regard, Goodbye Earl, Envoutante, and Paris Lights.