BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Fresh off a clear victory in a maiden special weight taken off the turf at Evangeline Downs in her last race, Florida-bred Double L’s Army heads to Prairie Meadows Friday night for the $100,000 Prairie Meadows Debutante. The bay daughter of Army Mule from the barn of trainer Jayde Gelner is one of 10 2-year-old fillies in the six-furlong test on the main track.

Double L’s Army was a two-and-a-half-length winner last out when coming from six lengths back last out on July 25. That was the second race of her young career after finishing second to Cyndi Loper in a five-furlong maiden special weight for fillies at Lone Star Park on debut on June 29.

Double L’s Army is an earner of $24,520 for Thompson Racing LLC, who purchased her for $45,000 out of the Envision Equine consignment at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training in April.

 

She is out of the winning City Zip mare County Club, a half-sister to stakes-placed Portrait who has produced two winners from two starters. Double L’s Army was bred in Florida by English Range Farm. 

Gelner has given the riding assignment on Double L’s Army to Kevin Roman and they have drawn post two. Double L’s Army is 6-1 on the morning line.

Double L’s Army looks to become the second Florida-bred winner of the Prairie Meadows Debutante, joining 2008 winner A Day for Dancing.

Trainer Ken McPeek brings in Sugaree from his base in Kentucky after she won a $50,000 maiden optional claiming at Colonial Downs on July 12.  Going five-and-a-half furlongs, Sugaree came from five lengths off the pace to win by three-quarters of a length.

Sugaree is from the first crop of By My Standards and in her first start was second to Victory Music in a restricted maiden special weight for fillies going five furlongs at Churchill Downs on July 29.

An earner of $46,800 for owners David A Bernsen LLC, Dean Demaree and Steve Crabtree, Sugaree was a $30,000 purchase by McPeek at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale where she was consigned by Machmer Hall Sales.

Glenn Corbett will ride Sugaree for the first time from post three.

Rounding out the field are Practical Joy with Kylee Jordan taking the riding assignment, Alberto Pusac will guide Lady Captain, Summer Winner and jockey Alonso Quinonez, Alfredo Triana Jr. will guide Somavia, Miamante will have Ken Tohill up, Elvin Gonzalez has the mount on Ritzaphena, Glengloria will have Tyler Bacon in the saddle and Walter De La Cruz will guide Hot Crazy Matrix.

Return to the August 13 issue of Wire to Wire