Tutta La Vita has had to acclimate several times in her career. Multiple Group 1-placed in her native Australia, she made an atypical move to opposite seasons in the Northern Hemisphere last year.
After starting her United States campaign in Florida, she comes off a layoff to make her first Kentucky start in Sunday’s sixth race at Churchill Downs – and for a new trainer. With trainer Ignacio Correas retiring to his native Argentina, Mike Maker has picked up the mare for Resolute Racing, which purchased her for more than $2 million in U.S. funds at the 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Tutta La Vita placed in three Group 1 stakes in Australia, finishing third in the 2023 Flight Stakes; third last year in the Surround Stakes; and second, beaten just a half-length in the 2024 Storm Queen Stakes. She arrived in Kentucky in the summer of 2024, and took some time to acclimate, as it was winter in Australia when she shipped.
The extreme distance, as well as the change in seasons, account for the small number of Australian-bred runners to compete in the U.S., compared to South American shippers. Less than two dozen Australian-bred horses raced in the U.S. from Jan. 1, 2020 through this month. Some of those have been based elsewhere. For example, Australian-bred but Japanese-based Invincible Papa was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, as just the fourth individual Australian-bred horse to start in the Breeders’ Cup, which was inaugurated in 1984.
Tutta La Vita made her first U.S. start on Dec. 28 at Gulfstream Park, and crossed the line second, but the race was declared a no contest after jockey Jorge Ruiz came off his mount shortly after the break and the track’s emergency siren sounded. The mare then started in a strong handicap race, featuring several stakes-seasoned runners, on Jan. 25, and was fourth. In her most recent outing, on Feb. 22, she was second, beaten a half-length.
Tutta La Vita closed into a moderate pace that day, and may need that skill in Sunday’s sixth race, a $127,000 allowance for fillies and mares going a mile on turf. There seems to be little committed speed in a field that may have changes, with course conditions in question and multiple horses cross-entered.
The weather is expected to be clear on Sunday in Louisville, but rain through the week may leave some cut in the course. That could suit Tutta La Vita, who ran a number of solid races on soft or good ground in Australia.
Tutta La Vita has been in a steady pattern of works in Kentucky since August, including multiple bullet moves, or close to it, at Turfway Park in the past month.
◗ The eighth race is a $134,000 allowance/optional-claiming race at a mile on the main track for 3-year-olds and up who have never won twice other-than, or who have never won three races. Baby Max is making his first start since finishing 10th in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby in March at Turfway. Prior to that, he won the Leonatus and was second in the John Battaglia Memorial on the Tapeta there. However, he did win his maiden on the Churchill dirt last year.
Expectations have always been high for Excite, who is out of multiple Grade 1 winner Elate. He is coming off an allowance win at Keeneland in which he led throughout, with relatively moderate fractions.
Solo Venturi could offer surprising value if the morning line holds. He has won two of his three starts on dirt, both at a mile. The only unplaced effort of his brief career came when trying turf.
◗ One day after Grade 1 winner Troubleshooting looks for his third consecutive graded stakes win in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs, owner-breeder Donamire Farm and trainer Greg Foley unveil his younger half-sibling. Trouble Calling starts in Sunday’s 10th race, a maiden special weight for juveniles.