Oonagh, Ticket clash in Fleur de Lis

The $300,000 Fleur de Lis H. (G2) will take place one race prior to the main

event on the "Stephen Foster Super Saturday" card at Churchill Downs, and the 1

1/8-mile test promises to be a dandy affair with the presence of premiere

distaffers OONAGH MACCOOL (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) and HAPPY TICKET (Anet).

Oonagh Maccool has drawn rave reviews from conditioner Todd Pletcher following

smashing victories in the Louisville Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Rampart H. (G2),

and the four-year-old filly's lone career setback came over a yielding turf

course last November at Aqueduct. She's won three straight this season and will

keep Rafael Bejarano in the saddle.

Happy Ticket is very formidable, but she's come out on the short end of the

wire in her last two outings, just missing when second in both the Apple Blossom

H. (G1) and Azeri Breeders' Cup S. (G3). The Grade 1-winning mare has shipped in

from Louisiana for trainer Andrew Leggio Jr., and Julien Leparoux will guide her. Oonagh Maccool and Happy Ticket are the co-highweights at 120

pounds. GALLANT SECRET (Menifee) has placed in three stakes at Churchill,

including last year's Kentucky Oaks (G1), but she faces a difficult class

challenge against the top two. The same goes for the other three contestants.

Oonagh Maccool will lead the post parade. Next comes Happy Ticket; Gallant

Secret, Bill Troilo, 112; CHARACTER BUILDER (Coronado's Quest), Shaun Bridgmohan,

112; LA REASON (Labeeb [GB]), Garrett Gomez, 114; and SOUL SEARCH (A.P. Indy),

Willie Martinez, 110.