© Reed Palmer

Friday, Churchill Downs
LA TROIENNE S.-GII, $327,000, CDX, 5-4, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:42 4/5, ft.
1--JUANITA, 118, f, 4, by Mineshaft
1st Dam: Wishful Splendor (SW & GSP, $271,125), by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Kaylem Ho, by Salem
3rd Dam: Kay Ho, by Quid Pro Quo
O-William S & Graydon Patterson; B-Padua Stables (KY); T-Michael J Maker; J-Ramon A Dominguez; $198,686. Lifetime Record: 16-6-3-3, $485,328. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2--St. John's River, 118, f, 4, Include--Adventurous Di, by Private Account. O-Dede McGehee; B-Heaven Trees Farm (KY); T-Andrew Leggio Jr; $64,092.
3--Plum Pretty, 123, f, 4, Medaglia d'Oro--Liszy, by A.P. Indy. ($100,000 RNA yrl '09 FTSAUG; $75,000 RNA yrl '09 FTMOCT; $130,000 2yo '10 OBSMAR). O-Peachtree Stable; B-Silent Indy Stables LLC & DDS Stables (PA); T-Bob Baffert; $32,046.


Margins: 2, 1, 5. Odds: 16.70, 6.10, 0.40.
Also Ran: Absinthe Minded, Afleeting Lady, Maristar, Love Theway Youare. Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs, the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree or the video, sponsored by Taylor Made Sales.
   Juanita, a $25,000 claim from Padua last March who went on to capture the GII Indiana Oaks in October, spent the winter at Fair Grounds, where she kicked off 2012 with a second in the grassy Marie Krantz Memorial H. Jan. 14. After tiring to third behind Joyful Victory (Tapit) in the Tiffany Lass S. on the main track Feb. 11, the dark bay gave an honest account of herself when runner-up to Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) in the New Orleans Ladies S. on St. Patrick's Day. That effort didn't garner her much respect here, however, while facing the top-two finishers from the 2011 GI Kentucky Oaks. Emboldened by her Big Easy effort, Juanita settled into second as 2-5 Plum Pretty traveled ominously well through a :48.36 opening half. The longshot collared the chalk turning for home and put her away in midstretch en route to an Oaks Days surprise. St. John's River closed from fifth to best her nemesis for second. "I have to give all the credit for claiming her to the owner, Mr. [Graydon] Patterson," said winning trainer Mike Maker. "He picked her out. It was all him. It sure has worked out well." Maker confirmed that the absence of Havre de Grace led to Juanita's presence at Churchill. "She ran just behind Havre de Grace last time so we gave it a shot. We were going to run in Chicago, but when they retired Havre de Grace, it made the decision easy."