La Coronel Cruises to Victory in Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association

By Amy Owens —-

La Coronel; Keeneland Photos

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La Coronel Cruises to Victory in Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association
Owner John C. Oxley earns Keeneland Tray for graded stakes success

LEXINGTON, KY (April 13, 2017) – John C. Oxley’s La Coronel reaffirmed her liking of the Keeneland turf course by breezing to a 3 1/4-length victory over Morticia to win the 29th running of the $125,000 Appalachian (G3) Presented by Japan Racing Association for 3-year-old fillies before a Thursday afternoon crowd of 10,981.

With the victory, Oxley earned a Keeneland Tray in recognition of his eighth graded stakes win at the track. The Keeneland Tray is part of Keeneland’s signature Milestone Trophy Program. Only 19 other owners in Keeneland history have achieved this level of success.

Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Florent Geroux, La Coronel covered the mile on a firm turf course in 1:37.12 for her second victory in as many tries at Keeneland. Last fall, she won the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) by 4¼ lengths.

The victory was worth $75,000 and increased La Coronel’s earnings to $259,615 with a record of 7-3-1-0 with two graded-stakes victories.

Like a Hurricane and Morticia led the field of 11 through fractions of :23.89, :49.13 and 1:13.82 with La Coronel sitting just behind the leading pair while getting a ground-saving trip.

At the head of the stretch, La Coronel split Like a Hurricane and Morticia and quickly took command and never was threatened.

Casse and Geroux earned their second consecutive Appalachian victory after having triumphed with Catch a Glimpse last year.

Only Mike Stidham in 2000 and 2001 with Impending Bear and Bold Answer had gone back-to-back as a trainer. John Velazquez is the only other rider to repeat in the race with Audacious Chloe (2007) and Alwajeeha (2008).

A Keeneland sales graduate, La Coronel is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Colonel John out of the Chester House mare Listen.

La Coronel returned $9.40, $5.20 and $3.60. Morticia, ridden by Jose Lezcano, returned $28.40 and $13.80 and finished a head in front of Proctor’s Ledge, who returned $8 to show under Corey Lanerie.
Oxley’s other filly in the race, Dream Dancing, finished another half-length back in fourth and was followed in order by Bellavais, favored New Money Honey, Lull, Journey Home, Purely a Dream, Coasted and Like a Hurricane.

Racing continues Friday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET. Highlighting the program is the $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) for 4-year-olds and up that will go as the ninth race with a 5:30 p.m. post time.

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Keeneland will offer a Pick 6 carryover of $18,433 on Friday.

Quotes from the $125,000 Appalachian (G3) Presented by Japan Racing Association

Click here for a replay of the race

Florent Geroux (winning rider of La Coronel)
“She broke very sharply today. She put me in a great spot right away. I just tried to nurse her around there. When (I asked her), she surged like a lion. She just jumped in there and ate them up.”

Mark Casse (winning trainer)“She’s an amazing horse. I’ve gotta thank the Oxleys (owner John C. Oxley and his wife, Debby) for so many great things. I have to thank our farm team. This filly had double knee surgery after the (sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1 in November), and for her to come back and do what she just did … it took a lot of people and a lot of hard work We’re really proud of her.”

On Mr. Oxley earning a Keeneland Tray for La Coronel’s victory in recognition of his eighth graded stakes win at Keeneland

“If anybody deserves it, he deserves it. There was a lot of pressure (laughs). I was a little nervous about that. I’m glad he got it.”

Jose Lezcano (rider of runner-up Morticia)
“She’s very fast. I’m very proud of her and how she relaxed today. When I asked, she (exceled). The filly that won is a very nice filly, but my filly kept trying the whole way around.”

Corey Lanerie (rider of third-place finisher Proctor’s Ledge)
“On the first turn, I was midpack. The trip was pretty eventful. It was never really smooth. We were kind of bundled up like sardines, bouncing off each other. I never really found room. I had to kind of start up on her at the three-sixteenths and just started drifting out. Once I got room, I thought I’d still win but the wire came too fast. She’s such a classy filly.”

Chad Brown (trainer of sixth-place finisher and beaten favorite New Money Honey)
“I am disappointed. She had been training so well. We’ll bring her back to Belmont Park and race her there on a course we know she likes. I can’t use the layoff as an excuse because she had been training so well and our team is so good at getting them ready. I thought the winner ran a terrific race.

(Jockey Javier Castellano) just didn’t have any horse turning for home.”

Javier Castellano (rider of New Money Honey)
“I had a good trip but it looked on paper like there would be a little more speed. It was not a good setup for me today with the slow pace. When I asked her to run, she just didn’t respond.”

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