Xigera Heads for Planned Break Following Falls City Romp

Nov 24, 2023 Kevin Kerstein

Rigney Racing’s Xigera, the impressive 6 ½-length Falls City (Grade III) winner, will head for a planned break this winter before targeting the 2024 La Troienne (Grade I) on Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs.

“We’re going to take her to the sidelines for the winter and hopefully take the same course as we did last year with Played Hard and target the La Troienne,” trainer Phil Bauer said. “Our year-end goal next year will be the Breeders’ Cup. We got bit with the injury bug this year with Played Hard who we retired and never got to make it to the Breeders’ Cup. Hopefully Xigera can fill Played Hard’s shoes now that she’s out of the barn.”

Xigera’s victory in Falls City was the fifth win of her 3-year-old season from just six starts. Bauer switched Xigera to the dirt three starts ago in the Seneca Overnight Stakes where she defeated Coaching Club American Oaks (GI) fourth-place finisher She’s Lookin Lucky and Black Eyed Susan (GIII) heroine Taxed. In her next start, Xigera took on Grade I winner Defining Purpose in the Mother Goose (GII) and defeated her by 3 ½ lengths.

Bauer won last year’s Falls City with Played Hard who returned five months later to win the La Troienne by a neck over Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Secret Oath.

Xigera capped a three-win day for Rigney and Bauer. The duo won Race 9 with veteran Angkor and Race 12 with 2-year-old first-time starter Legadema.

FIERCENESS 7-1 INDIVIDUAL FAVORITE ATER FIRST DAY OF WAGERING IN DERBY FUTURE – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I) winner Fierceness was the early 7-1 individual favorite in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 following the first of four days of wagering in the pari-mutuel pool. Overall, “All Other Colts and Geldings from the 2021 Foal Crop” not listed was the 2-1 favorite.

Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager runs concurrently with the Sire Future Wager where offspring sired by Triple Crown winner Justify was the 8-1 individual favorite and “All Other Sires” not listed was the 5-2 overall favorite.

Both pools feature $2 win wagering and exactas. Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will close Sunday at 6 p.m. and the Sire Future Wager will close Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

For the latest odds and free Brisnet past performances for both pools, visit www.kentuckyderby.com/futurewager.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Friday’s 12-race card featured the $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) and $300,000 Mrs. Revere (GII). First post was 1 p.m. There was a $14,114 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot that covered Races 7-12 and a $2,510 carryover in the rolling $1 Super Hi-5 in Race 1. … Cardinal Stakes (GIII) winner Star Fortress received a 101 Brisnet Speed Rating for her 10-length romp in Thursday’s co-featured event. … The first 5,000 guests in attendance on Saturday will receive a free 2024 Churchill Downs Calendar sponsored by Humana.