Believe You Can hoping to make it two in a row under the Twin Spires

Last updated: 4/30/13 5:01 PM

Believe You Can hoping to make it two in a row under the
Twin Spires

Believe You Can, who enjoyed two easy wins at Fair Grounds, faces a stiffer test in the La Troienne

(Jamie Hernandez/Hodges Photography)

The star of last year’s Kentucky Oaks, Believe You Can, will play a prominent
supporting role on Oaks Day 2013 when she heads a field of seven older fillies
and mares in the Grade 2, $300,000
La
Troienne over 1 1/16 miles, the first of five undercard stakes on Friday’s
blockbuster 12-race program at Churchill Downs.

Believe You Can’s sophomore campaign ended prematurely one race after the
Oaks, following a distant third-place effort in the June 23 Mother Goose at
Belmont Park. The Proud Citizen filly, a homebred racing for former Kentucky
governor Brereton Jones, bounced back in a strong way over the winter at Fair
Grounds, taking both the Tiffany Lass and New Orleans Ladies by wide margins
over suspect company.

Another whose three-year-old season was abbreviated, On Fire Baby, turned in
a surprise front-running win in the April 12 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn
Park in her first start in more than 10 months. The gray daughter of Smoke
Glacken was the top juvenile filly at the 2011 fall meet, sweeping the
Pocahontas and Golden Rod, and later went on to win the Honeybee prior to the
Oaks, where she finished fifth behind Believe You Can.

Looking to upset the top pair are California shipper More Chocolate and the
Todd Pletcher-trained Authenticity. More Chocolate, who made her first seven
starts on grass, took to dirt right away with a 1 1/2-length victory in the
January 20 La Canada at Santa Anita. She was most recently second, four lengths
adrift of Joyful Victory, in the March 16 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita.

Authenticity, a six-year-old with just six career starts, romped by more than
17 lengths in an entry-level allowance at Gulfstream in mid-February, and then
was second to stablemate Ciao Bella in a modest renewal of the Rampart at
Gulfstream Park.

The La Troienne field is completed by Canadian Grade 3 winner Class Included;
Imposing Grace, who chased Believe You Can in both New Orleans outings earlier
this year; and Grade 1-placed Draw It, who recently passed her first allowance
condition at Oaklawn.

Cyber Secret, shown winning the Razorback Handicap, enters the Alysheba on a four-race win streak

(Coady Photography)

Older males will also be in action Friday in the Grade 2, $300,000
Alysheba,
also at 1 1/16 miles. Following the defection earlier this week of Breeders’ Cup
Classic winner Fort Larned, favoritism might fall on Cyber Secret, who gave his
owner, Oaklawn president Charles Cella, a meet to remember in Hot Springs with
four straight victories, including the Oaklawn Handicap by 5 3/4 lengths last
time.

Take Charge Indy, who won the Florida Derby last year and also finished a
solid second in the Clark Handicap over the Churchill strip, finished a distant
third in the Donn Handicap in his season debut. Last time, the regally-bred colt
was a clear second in the Skip Away, also at Gulfstream.

Bourbon Courage, an easy five-length winner of the Super Derby last fall, has
been highly competitive in four subsequent outings. Second or third in the
Indiana Derby and Clark to end 2012, the Lion Heart colt was second in the Donn
and third in the New Orleans Handicap in his two outings so far this term.

Macho Macho, who landed the West Virginia Derby last summer, has raced just
twice in the intervening nine months. Runner-up in the Pennsylvania Derby two
back, the Steve Asmussen trainee next finished a troubled fourth in the New
Orleans Handicap following a six-month layoff.

Hoping to recapture some past glory are Hymn Book, a gelded seven-year-old
who has won just once in seven starts since taking the 2012 Donn, and two-time
Pacific Classic winner Richard’s Kid, most recently third in the Ben Ali at
Keeneland.

Longshots Patrioticandproud, Laugh Track and Right to Vote all break from the
three inside posts.

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