Colonel Joan Takes on Dirt in La Canada

Colonel Joan makes her first stakes start on dirt when she runs in next Saturday’s Grade II La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

Eoin Harty feels she’ll give a good account of herself.

“She works well on the main track,” the trainer said. “I see no reason she won’t be able to handle it . . . she‘s by Colonel John and he’s a multiple Grade I winner on the dirt.”

Six of Colonel Joan’s 11 career starts have come on turf, including a third-place finish at 37-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November 2013.

Harty trained Colonel John to win the 2008 Santa Anita Derby. Colonel Joan, a bay filly bred in Kentucky by Phil Owens, is owned by Eoin’s wife, Kathy, and Mark DeDomenico.

“My mother-in-law’s name is Joan, so instead of Colonel John, we named the filly after her,” Harty said. “She’s thrilled.”

No more so than Eoin and Kathy would be should Colonel Joan win the La Canada.

Source: Ed Golden, Santa Anita Stable Notes