Evangeline Downs: Gone Kitty has experience edge

Stakes experience is a little hard to come by in Friday night’s filly division of the $60,000 John Franks Memorial Sales Stakes at Evangeline Downs. So rare, in fact, that Gone Kitty’s fifth-place performance in the $100,000 Texas Stallion Stakes at Lone Star Park earlier this month represents the entire sum total of the 11 2-year-old fillies entered in the 5 1/2-furlong headliner.

Gone Kitty was bred in Texas by national training powerhouse Steven Asmussen. A daughter of Intimidator out of the Forest Wildcat mare Cat in the Tree, Gone Kitty brought $14,000 when she passed through the sales ring at the Franks Sale held at Evangeline in March.

Before her stakes debut on July 9, Gone Kitty led from start to finish in winning her maiden race at first asking at Evangeline against maiden special weight company. Trained by Anthony Agilar, she also controled the pace for the opening three furlongs in her stakes try before giving way through the stretch. That dangerous speed coupled with her seasoning advantage should garner her favor with the betting public. Agilar’s son Trey will once again handle the riding chores.

Body by Isabelle has some early foot of her own and will likely try to exploit her number 1 post position in the Franks Memorial. Like Gone Kitty, Body by Isabelle was a winner at first asking when she dueled up front before edging clear in the late going against maiden specials on June 25. A Chapel Royal filly, she was a $11,000 sales graduate who is trained by Ted Arndt and will be ridden by veteran Kirk LeBlanc.

Should the pace Friday night get too lively, Misty Michelle may be in position to take advantage. A K One King filly, she staged a four-wide rally in her successful career debut two weeks ago as the 7-5 favorite. She is trained by Allen Landry and will be ridden by Gerard Melancon.