Testa Rossi Makes Return in Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes

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Jan 30th, 2015

www.BloodHorse.com
by Jerry Bossert

Multiple graded stakes winner Testa Rossi makes her return to the races in the $150,000 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT) from Tampa Bay Downs Jan. 31.

Drawing the rail in the field of 14 at 1 1/16 miles on turf, Testa Rossi will be making her first start since Nov. 15 when she finished seventh as the favorite in the Mrs. Revere Stakes (gr. IIT) from Churchill Downs.

Prior to that race, the French-bred daughter of Dr Fong out of the dam Peggy Lane had been out of action since suffering a minor injury from her fourth-place finish in the Ashland Stakes (gr. I) as the favorite at Keeneland April 5.

The 4-year-old filly began her career in 2013 in her native France where she won three of five starts prior to being purchased by owners James Covello, Thomas Coleman, and Doheny Racing Stable, and shipped to trainer Chad Brown in August 2013.

She won her U.S. debut in the Miss Grillo Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park Oct. 6 and followed that with a runner-up performance in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park. She started her 3-year-old campaign with a win in Tampa Bay Downs' Florida Oaks (gr. IIIT) March 8 before her setback in the Ashland, her lone start not on the grass.

She disappointed in the Mrs. Revere Stakes upon her return more than seven months later when she flattened out to seventh. However, she has been training well since for Brown, working out every week since Dec. 15 at Palm Meadows Training Center.

On Jan. 26, Testa Rossi turned in a bullet work when she covered four furlongs in :47.45 at Palm Meadows, the fastest of 33 horses at the distance.

Testa Rossi will look to give Brown his second winner in the race, having saddled Zagora to victory in the 2012 edition. Irad Ortiz Jr. will be in to ride the filly.

Brown will also be represented by Rosalind in the Endeavour.

The Kentucky-bred filly by Broken Vow   out of the dam Critics Acclaim has won just two of 11 career starts but did take the Ashland Stakes, finishing in a dead-heat for first with Room Service, well clear of Testa Rossi.

After the Ashland, Rosalind lost her next four starts, including a stakes try at Ascot June 20 when she lost her rider.

Back in North America, Rosalind ended her 3-year-old season with a ninth-place finish in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) July 5, and a 10th place finish in the Pin Oak Valley View Stakes (gr. IIIT) Oct. 17 at Keeneland.

Rosalind will break from post 2 and will be ridden by Leandro Goncalves.

The Endeavour also marks the 2015 season debut for multiple graded stakes winner I'm Already Sexy, a seven-time winner from 18 lifetime starts with earnings of $515,444. Wayne Catalano trains the 5-year-old Ready's Image   mare for Hit The Board Stables.

Speedway Stable's Hard Not to Like makes her first appearance since taking the Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IT) on the Keeneland turf April 12. Previously trained by Michael Matz, the gray 6-year-old daughter of Hard Spun   is to make her first start for Christophe Clement.

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