Free Like a Girl to get some time off

If a fit racehorse like Free Like a Girl is having trouble handling the sweltering temperatures that have gripped the Southwest, what hope is there for the rest of us?

Free Like a Girl, the reigning Louisiana-bred of the year who is closing in on earnings of $1 million, is getting some downtime after finishing an uncharacteristic eighth in the Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Aug. 5 at Louisiana Downs.

She came into the race with four stakes wins this year alone, and was the 1-2 favorite. Free Like a Girl finished eight lengths back under regular rider Timothy Thornton.

“He said she was a little flat, didn’t give him what she normally does,” said Chasey Deville-Pomier, who co-owns and trains Free Like a Girl. “We definitely chalked it up to the heat.”

Deville-Pomier said Free Like a Girl scoped clean after the race and also has been in the feed tub. She said earlier this month that plans are to give the filly more time than usual to recover from the Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

A potential return to the races could come in the $100,000 Magnolia for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares Oct. 6 at Delta Downs. Free Like a Girl has been based at Evangeline Downs, which closed out its meet last Saturday.

“The heat down here has been a killer on a lot of them,” said Deville-Pomier. “Talking to a lot of other trainers, some horses are just shutting down, stopping sweating all of the sudden.

“We’ll just take it day to day. We’ll give her whatever time she needs. It’s been crazy hot.”

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