Eblouissante Will Definitely Run in Shuvee

Trainer John Shirreffs on Friday confirmed that Eblouissante, a 4-year-old half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, will compete in Saturday’s Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap instead of an optional claimer that was scheduled to be contested on Monday.

The Shuvee, her first start since January, will be Eblouissante’s stakes debut after going 2-for-2 to launch her career. Her competition is expected to include Grade 2 La Troienne winner Authenticity, Iowa Distaff winner Flashy American, and Mariensky overnight stakes winner Royal Lahaina.

“[The Shuvee is] very tough,” said Shirreffs. “You see her numbers compared to those of some of the other fillies, and she’s going to really have to step up her game. We’ll see. It’s been a long time, and it’s a change in surfaces from what she’s been running on.”

Because of her relation to 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Zenyatta, expectations are high for Eblouissante. Shirreffs, however, hopes Eblouissante, a daughter of Bernardini and Vertigineux, is evaluated on her own merits.

“I try to avoid that kind of pressure,” said Shirreffs. “As we all know, each horse has to prove him or herself.”