Believe it or not, juvenile filly a mom

BOSSIER CITY, La. - In what can only be called a fluke of nature, a 2-year-old filly has given birth on the Louisiana Downs backside.

Tiger Eyed, a juvenile filly by top Louisiana sire Ide, had been under trainer Pat Mouton's shed row for two months before it was discovered she had given birth to a filly on Wednesday morning.

"I got to the track about 5:45 a.m.," said Mouton. "I saw a group of people down at the end of the barn and knew something was up. When I looked in her stall, I couldn't believe my eyes."

Louisiana state veterinarian Dr. John Allender said it is very rare for a filly that young to conceive a foal and give birth.

"I have never seen anything like it either," said Allender. "I had to go see for myself."

The filly had recently worked three furlongs in 36 seconds, Mouton said.

"She went pretty well, but I thought she was still heavy and we needed to get some weight off her," he said. "I guess we don't need to worry about that now."

Both Tiger Eyed and her foal are at the Benton Training Center, Mouton said.

"We found a nurse mare to take care of the baby since the filly was not making any milk," he said. "She must have conceived when turned out last fall with several other young horses in a farm south of here."

Allender agreed with Mouton that it likely happened when the filly was turned out as a yearling prior to having been put into training.

Allender also said that the prospects for the youngster look good.

"They found a solid nurse mare, and when that happens, they usually survive," he said.

The foal will not be eligible to race since paternal lineage cannot be proven.