June 19, 2025 - Churchill Downs, Race 1, USD $118,987, 5fT, Maiden Special Weight
Dam: Catbrier , by Street Sense
Owner: Elements Racing LLC; B-Mesingw Farm LLC (KY)
Breeder: Mesingw Farm LLC
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
Appearing to lose all chance after a super-awkward start from the inside post, Meringue (Frosted) slowly reeled in her rivals over the course of Churchill's five-furlong turf test and was up just in time to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors Thursday afternoon.
Breaking from post 1, the grey was eased to the back of the field as 3-2 favorite Delightful Darling (Flameaway) went to the front, cutting out an opening quarter of :22.19 as Vibora (Hootenanny) pressed the issue in a close-up second. With those two fillies turned for home in tandem, Meringue was behind a wall of horses with several lengths left to make up on the leaders. Taken to the outside by Luan Machado for the stretch drive, the green but potent Rodolphe Brisset trainee filly closed with a sudden burst midstretch and swept to the front in the final strides to graduate by a neck over fellow-firsters Delightful Darling and Second City Saint (Raging Bull {Fr}), who was farther back in third. Vibora was fourth.
Unplaced Catbrier, with this filly in utero, sold to Stephen and Denise Smith's Mesingw Farm for $32,000 at the Keeneland November Sale in 2022. Meringue, her first foal, was followed by a colt by Oscar Performance and a filly by Volatile this term.
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