By Alan Carasso
Whisper Hill Farm, Qatar Racing and Flurry Racing Stables' Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) is expected to jump a warm favorite as she goes in search of a third Grade I success beneath the famed Twin Spires in Friday's GI La Troienne S.
Upset winner of the 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks, the bay outfought Envoutante (Uncle Mo) to win this event by a length 53 weeks ago and atoned for a third-place effort behind champion Letruska (Super Saver) in the GI Odgen Phipps S. with a 3 1/4-length score in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar Aug. 1. An ultra-game winner of this track's GIII Locust Grove S. Sept. 18, Shedaresthedevil raced close to the sizzling early pace of the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and retreated to sixth before fetching $5 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Kept in training this season at five, she exits a pacesetting third behind Eclipse Award winner Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) in the GIII Azeri S. Mar. 12.
Pauline's Pearl (Tapit), a longshot eighth in last year's Oaks, was runner-up in the seven-furlong GIII Charles Town Oaks in August and in the GIII Remington Park Oaks going a route of ground in September before turning the tables on Lady Mystify (Bernardini) in the Zia Park Oaks Nov. 23. The homebred took out the GIII Houston Ladies' Classic Jan. 30 and was getting to Ce Ce in the Azeri, missing by 3/4 of a length after some trouble at the start.
Battle Bling (Vancouver {Aus}), claimed by Michael Dubb and Gandharvi Racing Stable for $62,500 out of a runner-up effort at Aqueduct Dec. 19, paid most of that bill when winning the Jan. 16 Ladies' S. and has since finished second n the Mar. 6 Heavenly Prize Invitational S. and in the Top Flight Invitational S. Apr. 10.
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