Trots Centre: Juanita's Louisiana lass a hot source of success

Nothing quite cuts through the winter chill like the sweet taste of success and Juanita Breen been’s savoring the winning spree that has her on the verge of her most successful season.

Louisiana Jo will step out at Bendigo tonight in pursuit of a third victory from four starts and it’s fair to say Breen is well invested, having the title of part-owner as well as trainer-driver of the Roll With Joe filly.

Success tonight in the Sandhurst Stockfeeds Pace, which streams at 8.30pm on Trots Vision, would deliver Breen’s eighth training win of the season (from only 20 starts) and a career high 10^th driving win (from only 22 starts).

“It’s what you get up early in the morning to do,” Breen said. “It’s been a really good season.”

In addition to two wins pre-Christmas with Golden Spurs, Breen’s success has been fueled by the stable’s three-year-old fillies Yarrawong Lass and Louisiana Jo.

While the former won three of her 13 starts before being tipped out for a spell, the latter was given a few more months before first stepping out.

She was a 2018 Australian Pacing Gold sales purchase from breeder Greg Fusinato, with Breen and her husband Aaron Brown having initially coveted another of the breeder’s offerings before changing tack.

The filly by Roll With Joe out of a Western Jazz (by Western Ideal) quickly proved a wise choice.

“We’ve really liked her right from when we broke her in,” Breen said. “She has shown good ability right along, but she is a very quirky filly.

“She can be a tricky filly to drive at times, she has a few nervous ticks and is a bit of a head shaker, but most of the time she is lovely and quite a sensible filly around the farm.”

And she’s settled with age, with Breen having had “her going as a two-year-old and she gave the impression she could do with more time, she was a big filly since she was a yearling”.

“Maturity helped her physically and mentally and it was nice to have vindication for that patience.”

She came back in late in February as a three-year-old, had two trials before her first start and was thrust into the deep end at Shepparton on May 8, when the first starter was a $25 shot.

“We had eight-horse fields and all the racing was at Shepparton. She was familiar with the track and so we thought we may as well go to the races and see what happens,” Breen said of the debut, which Louisiana Jo would win with a sprint lane burst.

“I was really happy to see her do well. A lot goes in behind the scenes to get to that point.”

That includes embracing first-time owners Everleven Racing Group and some thoroughbred owning converts in Pat Martin and Ross Lanyon, who now share ownership with Breen and Brown.

“They are really enjoying the ride,” Breen said. “I use mystable to keep them up to date and it’s great to hear how much fun they are having. That’s what it’s all about.”

That joy was only enhanced by Louisiana Jo’s second placing in her second start and then last start victory, when she won with a final burst from wide on the track.“Second up just a lack of experience cost her. She lost touch with them a little bit, but she didn’t shirk the issue and almost got there,” Breen said.

“It was certainly good (last start) to show she’s not one dimensional. It was pleasing to see her take the trail and get the job done.

“She has just got better to drive as a racehorse. She is a lot more switched on, she has more idea of what’s going on."

And Breen is optimistic that the good times will continue at Bendigo tonight.

“If there’s any quality about her she should be competitive and I think she will be. She was able to use her mare concession to come into the race, she is fit and well and will do her best.

“She will probably be driven similar to last time and hopefully she will get a trail up there at the finish.”

All going well Louisiana Jo and Yarrawonga Lass, who is nearing a return to racing, will both be directed towards Vicbred Super Series campaigns at year’s end.

TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:

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