Goat helps soothe High Dollar Kitten

BOSSIER CITY, La. – High Dollar Kitten is something of a particular horse, and in Sunday’s seventh race at Louisiana Downs, he gets a distance that should suit him well, said trainer Pamela Simpson. High Dollar Kitten will be moving to a mile for a first-level allowance on turf that drew a field of nine, with Itsy Bitsy Walk entered for the main track only.

High Dollar Kitten could go favored after finishing second at this level in his last start Aug. 9. He raced 7 1/2 furlongs and will be getting his first shot at mile during this meet on Sunday.

“I think a mile and a sixteenth is a little further than he likes, and 7 1/2 is a shade short,” said Simpson. “I like the mile.”

Race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

High Dollar Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 64-72-64)

◗ High Dollar Kitten is one of the top horses in Simpson’s barn, and she said he has developed into a more consistent horse over the course of the meet in part because of a new barn friend, a goat named Ally. Simpson got the goat for High Dollar Kitten in May.

“He had a horrible stall-walking habit,” she said. “Ally has helped calm him. She’s made a difference. I have seen a change in his demeanor. He’s a happy horse, and happy horses perform.”

◗ High Dollar Kitten, to be ridden by Don Simington, could get a stalking trip Sunday.

“The goat has helped with [High Dollar Kitten’s] maturity, and he’s more amenable to what his rider is telling him,” said Simpson.

Udoknowjack (Last 2 Beyers: 76-71)

◗ He’s making a rare start on grass after putting up his best career Beyer Speed Figure last out in a first-level allowance at Louisiana Downs. He ran second, dueling throughout the first-level allowance for horses bred in Louisiana.

Itsy Bitsy Walk (Last 3 Beyers: 79-75-82)

◗ He’s entered for the main track only and would be the one to beat if the race comes off the grass as a winner of his last four starts.

Seeking Ms Shelley points to Distaff Sprint at Remington

Seeking Ms Shelley, a three-time stakes winner who was second in the opening-night allowance feature last month at Remington Park, will return to the Oklahoma City track for next month’s Oklahoma Classics program, said trainer Joe Duhon.

Seeking Ms Shelley, who is based at Louisiana Downs, is targeting the $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint at six furlongs Oct. 17. She ran five furlongs on turf last month at Remington and rallied for second behind fellow stakes winner Snappy Girl.

“She probably ran the best race of her life,” Duhon said of Seeking Ms Shelley. “She had a bad trip, was last at the head of the lane, and runs second in a race that went in 55 and 2.”

Seeking Ms Shelley is a career winner of 13 races and $378,492. She is owned by the Dream Walkin’ Farms operation of country-music artist Toby Keith and his family.

Trainers’ title hunt intensifies

Jonas Gibson has been eyeing the Louisiana Downs standings since the meet started in May, hoping to take down his first career training title at his home track. But the competition has been fierce, and Gibson is locked in an all-out war atop the standings with Joey Foster. Gibson led the defending champ, 40-39, heading into Friday’s card, while Karl Broberg was just four wins back with 36.

“It’s a dogfight,” Gibson, 31, said. “The last two weeks are going to be hard.”

Louisiana Downs closes its season Sept. 21. From here, Gibson said plans to have 25 to 30 horses at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Eramia in race of his own

Jockey Richard Eramia is in his own race atop the Louisiana Downs standings. He had won 124 races through Thursday, for a 63-win lead in the standings. Eramia is hoping to surpass his personal-best meet at Louisiana Downs, where he won 127 races in 2013.

“It’s been a really good meet, a lot of live horses,” said Eramia.

Eramia said he plans to ride some at Delta Downs following the close of Louisiana Downs and then will set up shop at Fair Grounds, which opens in November.

Eramia is the seventh-leading rider in wins in North America this year, with 194 through Thursday.