The Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs is set to be a thrilling contest on Saturday, June 28, 2025, with a purse of $500,000 up for grabs.
The 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares, four years old and upward, has attracted a field of talented runners, but all eyes will be on the formidable Thorpedo Anna. This is her first start since the worst performance of her career, and she will face a stern challenge from the determined Royal Spa (4-1) and the improving Gin Gin (7-2), both of whom are in excellent form.
Thorpedo Anna’s uncharacteristically poor last outing makes this a fascinating edition of the Fleur de Lis.
The race not only offers a significant purse but also serves as a crucial test to see if the champion can return to her dominant form. Royal Spa, Gin Gin, and the consistent Taxed will be ready to capitalize if the favorite falters again.
Spot On The Field
1) Royal Spa (4/1) is a consistent performer with a strong track record at Churchill Downs, boasting three wins and a second from six starts at the venue. She is coming off a win in the Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 31, 2025, where she defeated Gin Gin by 1 1/2 lengths. She has hit the board in three of her four starts this year. With a stalking running style, she should be well-positioned to make a run in the stretch. Her main drawback could be facing a horse of Thorpedo Anna’s caliber at her best.
2) Save Time (20/1) is looking for her first graded stakes victory. While she has been consistent, with two wins and five second-place finishes in 12 lifetime starts, she has yet to prove herself at this level. Her recent win at Churchill Downs on May 11, 2025, was against allowance company, and she will need to significantly improve her speed figures to be competitive here.
3) Thorpedo Anna (3/5) is a decorated champion with 10 wins from 13 starts and over $4.8 million in earnings. Her dominant front-running style has proven to be devastating, but her last start raises significant questions. In the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes on May 2, 2025, she had an eventful trip and finished a distant seventh, beaten by 8 1/2 lengths. This race marks her first start since that poor effort and will be a crucial test to see if she can return to the form that saw her win the Apple Blossom-G1 and Azeri-G2 earlier this year.
4) Gin Gin (7/2) is a stakes-winning filly who has been in good form, with a recent Grade 3 win at Keeneland on April 18, 2025, and a second-place finish behind Royal Spa in the Shawnee Stakes on May 31, 2025. She is a versatile runner who can press the pace or close from off of it, and her strong late pace figures could be a factor in the stretch. She has a decent record at the distance with a win and a third in three starts.
5) Taxed (9/2) is a Grade 2 winner who is in solid form, with a recent second-place finish in the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes, where she finished ahead of Thorpedo Anna. She has a good record at this specific distance, with a win and a third in two starts. Her best races have come from stalking the pace, which should be a good strategy here with the front-running favorite in the race.
Spot On Picks
Win: (3) Thorpedo Anna (3/5) – Despite her poor performance last out, her overall body of work and class are undeniable. She is the fastest horse in the race, and her last trip was eventful. Her prior dominance makes her the deserving favorite, and this is her opportunity to bounce back from the first poor outing of her career.
Place: (1) Royal Spa (4/1) – She is in excellent form and has a strong record at Churchill Downs. She should be able to sit off the pace and make a run at the leader in the stretch. She recently defeated Gin Gin in a similar race, so she is a logical contender for the exacta.
Show: (5) Taxed (9/2) – She finished a good second in the La Troienne, a race where she finished ahead of Thorpedo Anna. She should be able to stalk the pace and pick up the pieces if the top two falter, or hold off the closers for a share of the purse.
Wildcard: (4) Gin Gin (7/2) – She is a tough horse and her late pace figures are very good. If the pace is too hot up front, she could be the one to capitalize and steal the race, as she has shown she can close strongly.
Longshot: (2) Save Time (20/1) – She has been consistent against allowance competition and is stepping up in class. If she can transfer her allowance form to this graded stakes race, she has an outside chance of hitting the board.
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