Holy Bubbette okay even if pace sizzles

The pace could be hot Saturday in the $50,000 Dixie Miss at Louisiana Downs, but the front-running Holy Bubbette has been mentally prepared for the challenge. The probable favorite in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, she heads a competitive field that also drew the sharp Letithappencaptain.

A speed duel can be the unraveling of some horses, but Holy Bubbette showed no signs of being frazzled in her last start, when she was engaged early and went on to an 8 1/2-length win in a two-other-than allowance at Arlington Park on July 20.

"She was very relaxed on the lead that day," said Tom Amoss, who trains Holy Bubbette. "She relaxed and drew off in the end.

"Everything has been about relaxing her, getting her to relax."

Holy Bubbette, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101 last time, also was an impressive front-running winner in her previous start, taking an entry-level allowance at Churchill Downs on June 12. That race was her first start for Amoss.

Holy Bubbette, owned by Katherine Elam, is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Sum Runner. She will be ridden by Luis Quinonez.

A quick pace Saturday would suit the late-running Letithappencaptain, who has won statebred stakes in her last two starts. That she is moving into open company should not be an issue since she beat open-company rivals in the $50,000 Wafare Farm Stakes at Lone Star Park in April.

"She just does everything right," said John F. Taylor, who trains Letithappencaptain for Whitney Zeringue.

Taylor added that Letithappencaptain, who has won four of her last six races, seems to have stepped up her game since she added blinkers in March. She will be ridden by Kirk LeBlanc.