Hottamolly takes Fantasia Stakes

Bossier City, La. - Stalking the pace under confident handling by Gerard Melancon, Hottamolly exploded down the lane to win Saturday's $50,000 Fantasia Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies. Tortuga Flats suffered only her second local defeat from seven starts and had to settle for second, three and a quarter lengths back followed by Hello Sara Lou.

Hottamolly ($4.80) won for the fourth time in six lifetime starts and avenged a narrow defeat to Tortuga Flats in last year's filly division of the Louisiana Futurity here in late December. She is trained by Pat Mouton for Bow Knot Farms and Val Murrell and covered the six furlongs in a brisk 1:10.38 over a fast strip. The daughter of Sky Classic has now earned just under $120,000.

"This filly is just automatic," said Melancon following the race. "She broke sharp today and I placed her right where we wanted her. She responded big time down the lane."