Dede McGehee’s St. John’s River, runner-up to Juanita in the Grade 2 La
Troienne on Kentucky Oaks Day, breezed five furlongs at Churchill Downs in 1:01
for trainer Andy Leggio Jr. in preparation for the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes
on June 16. The 37th running of the Fleur de Lis, sending distaffers 1 1/8 miles
on the main track at Churchill Downs, will be run on the Stephen Foster Handicap
Day undercard.
Working under retired jockey Larry Melancon, St. John’s River recorded
fractions of :12 3/5, :24 3/5 and :36 3/5 while galloping out six furlongs in
1:14 3/5.
“She went terrific,” Leggio said. “She went easy the first half-mile and then
we let her run a bit in the final eighth (of a mile). She’s fit and I just have
to keep her fit until the race.”
The La Troienne was the second race at Churchill Downs for St. John’s River.
The four-year-old bay daughter of Include also finished second in the Grade 1
Kentucky Oaks last spring, just missing on that occasion by a neck.
“Maybe we’ll actually win one this time,” Leggio grinned.
Bred in Kentucky by Heaven Trees Farm, St. John’s River has a career record
of 2-4-1 from eight lifetime starts, highlighted by a victory in the Grade 2
Delaware Oaks. In her only off-the-board finish she was fifth in the Grade 1
Alabama at Saratoga in her final start as a three-year-old.
St. John’s River’s main rival in the Fleur de Lis could be champion Royal
Delta. The Bill Mott-trained filly captured last year’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’
Classic, wrapping up an Eclipse Award-winning campaign that also saw her take
the Alabama and Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan.
The Empire Maker four-year-old is under consideration for the Fleur de Lis
following a troubled ninth-place effort in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup over
Meydan’s synthetic Tapeta.
Bet the Belmont Stakes at TwinSpires.com