Raging Sea wins thrilling edition of La Troienne

Alpha Delta Stables' homebred Raging Sea followed the leaders from well back in Friday’s $992,000 La Troienne S. (G1) at Churchill Downs, gained the initiative in between rivals in midstretch, and despite switching to her left lead was able to hold onto victory by three parts of a length over longshot Taxed. 

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden to victory by regular pilot Flavien Prat, Raging Sea bided her time near the back as Randomized led reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna and Dorth Vader past splits of :23.50, :47.22 and 1:11.38. 

As the field entered the stretch, it was clear that it was not Thorpedo Anna’s day as she retreated to last. Randomized, a stablemate of the winner, put up a gallant fight, though, still keeping a gap in front past a mile in 1:36.40. In the end, however, Raging Sea had a little too much and proceeded on to victory, completing the 1 1/16-mile fast track contest in 1:42.91.

Taxed was near last for much of the race but rallied strongly to get second by a head over Randomized, and following the top three past the line were Dorth Vader, Feel Like a Girl, Literate, and Thorpedo Anna, the 39-cent-on-the-dollar favorite.

Thorpedo Anna rated in second for much of the race after a contentious first turn trip with Randomized and Dorth Vader but came up empty in the last two furlongs. It’s the first time in her career that she has finished worse than second.

According to jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., Thorpedo Anna recovered fine from the incident on the first turn but didn’t have the punch left in the stretch.

Raging Sea, a five-year-old daughter of Curlin, was bred in the Bluegrass State and is the most successful foal out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Stormy Welcome. Raging Sea’s third dam is the 1992 Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise, a daughter of Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Weekend Surprise made history by producing American classic winners Summer Squall and A.P. Indy.

That’s not all. Raging Sea’s fourth dam is Lassie Dear, a daughter of Hall of Famer Buckpasser, whose third dam is none other than this race’s namesake La Troienne herself.

Raging Sea entered Friday’s contest having already posted wins in the 2024 editions of the Personal Ensign S. (G1), Beldame S. (G2), Shuvee S. (G2), and Doubledogdare S. (G3). She had not raced since finished a strong second to Thorpedo Anna in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar. 

The La Troienne score upped Raging Sea’s record to 14-8-2-1 and bankroll to $2,145,318.