Jockamo's Song possible for Louisiana Cup Sprint

Jockamo’s Song, who invaded from the East Coast to win the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint last Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, could stay down south a little longer.

Trainer Michael Stidham said Monday that Jockamo’s Song is being considered for the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint. The six-furlong race for statebreds is Aug. 5 at Louisiana Downs.

“We generally give him a little break during the summer to have him ready for the Fair Grounds,” Stidham said. “It’s enticing, since he ran so well, to consider the stakes at Louisiana Downs. We’re going to watch him over the next week or so and make a decision on whether we wait around and run him.”

Jockamo’s Song put in a strong closing bid to win the Louisiana Legends Sprint by a length, covering 5 1/2 furlongs in a quick 1:03.60. Prior to that start, the horse had been racing in turf sprints at Laurel in Maryland. Jockamo’s Song defeated a field of 12 on Saturday.

“We were delighted,” said Stidham, who trains the horse for Dare to Dream Stable. “He had run well on the dirt before, but most of his races recently had been sprinting on the turf, so you’re never sure when you go back to a dirt surface how they’re going to respond. He obviously loved it.”

Stidham said if Jockamo’s Song bypasses the Louisiana Cup, he could await the Louisiana Champions Day program this winter at Fair Grounds.

“We’ll just take it race by race,” Stidham said.

Stidham’s current base is the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md.