Hallowed Dreams could be quite a show

If the third race last Sunday at Louisiana Downs was any indication, the $75,000 Hallowed Dreams Breeders' Cup could end up being a bang-up race. Doyouwanttodance and Steamy Ridge duked it out through the stretch of a five-furlong allowance moved to the main track, and both could run back next in the Hallowed Dreams, a 6 1/2-furlong stakes for fillies and mares on July 19.

In the allowance, Doyouwanttodance came back for a half-length win over Steamy Ridge. For the effort, Doyouwanttodance earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

"It was just a dogfight," said Ralph Irwin, who trains Doyouwant-todance. "It was one of the best races at Louisiana Downs this season so far. Both horses deserved to win. They gave it their all, and fortunately we got lucky. Steamy Ridge is such a nice filly. It was quite the race."

Steamy Ridge, 3, is a multiple winner on dirt who had won back-to-back turf sprints heading into the allowance, including the $50,000 Beach Party at Louisiana Downs on May 24. Doyouwanttodance, 4, was entered for the main track only, and ended up running when wet weather moved the race to dirt Sunday.

Doyouwanttodance set the pace with Steamy Ridge in close pursuit, and the two blitzed through a half-mile in 44.64 seconds. Doyouwanttodance lost her advantage in the stretch, but, with her ears pinned flat against her head, came back along the rail to win under Kirk LeBlanc.

"We were all just thrilled with her, the gameness she showed," Irwin said. "She runs so hard. She gives 150 percent."

Doyouwanttodance won five straight races from March 2007 to January 2008, among her wins this year's $50,000 American Beauty at Oaklawn Park. Irwin said she is possible for the Hallowed Dreams. He said another next-race option is the $85,000 West Virginia Secretary of State for fillies and mares at six furlongs at Mountaineer on Aug. 2.

Doyouwanttodance races for Melissa Cantacuzene, who has some ties to West Virginia. Doyouwanttodance is a West Virginia-bred, while Cantacuzene and her husband, Rodion, have a home in nearby Virginia. Thursday, the Cantacuzenes and Irwin will be in action again at Louisiana Downs. Aldie, a half-sister to Doyouwanttodance, runs in the first race, a maiden special weight. Their other starter on the card is Curley Kim, who goes in the seventh, for maiden 2-year-old fillies bred in Louisiana. Irwin is hoping for another good race week for the Cantacuzenes.

"They are just class, lovely people who have been in the horse business many years," he said. "Luckily, they came to my barn about six, seven years ago."

Turf division heats up

Pleasantly Blessed leads a field of stakes-quality runners in the fourth race, a $50,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares at about 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. The race should produce starters for both the $100,000 Matchmaker for statebreds on the Louisiana Downs Champions Day card Aug. 2, and the $75,000 Honeymoon for fillies and mares on turf on Aug. 16.

Pleasantly Blessed was the runner-up in the $50,000 Top Corsage at Louisiana Downs in her last start May 24. She has finished no worse than second in her last seven starts. Patrick Valenzuela has been named to ride for trainer Morris Nicks.

Mi Isabella, a multiple stakes winner, will be making her first start since January. She indicated her readiness to return with a bullet four-furlong move in 46 seconds in her final prep for trainer Sam David. Other stakes winners in the field include probable pacesetter Temperamental Miss.

* Euphony, a stakes winner and the runner-up in the $50,000 Little Treasure on June 21, is being pointed for the $50,000 DeBartolo Oaks on July 19, said her trainer, Donnie Von Hemel.