Alpha Delta Stables’ Kentucky-bred Raging Sea rallied from off the pace to win the $1 million La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day.
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, Raging Sea completed the 1 1/16-mile fixture in 1:42.91. Taxed finished second and reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna jostled between rivals into the first turn and wound up last.
Making her first start since a runner-up finish to Thorpedo Anna in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Raging Sea is a daughter of Curlin out of the Storm Cat mare Stormy Welcome. A winner in 8-of-14 starts and an earner of more than $2.1 million, Raging Sea is now a two-time Grade 1 winner. She also annexed last year’s Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
“I was really looking forward to a little bit of a rematch and I was happy that she was able to get up there,” said Chad Brown. “She’s really etched her own solid career and not just a one-off sort of horse. She’s really turned into a solid, solid horse that everyone needs to respect. The pace was slower than we anticipated but Flavien did a nice job keeping her in striking distance and responded really well down the stretch.”
Raging Sea Upsets Thorpedo Anna
As for Thorpedo Anna’s disappointing effort, her jockey Brian Hernandez Jr said, “She got bounced around a little around the first turn. But then after that, it all cleared up. Then down the lane, she was just a little tired, and maybe the last race over there at Oaklawn (Apple Blossom) coming back quickly today, it took a little steam out of her. She got the kind of trip we envisioned, but it was just one of those situations where today wasn’t her day.”