Letellier Memorial could be next for Taylor's Spirit

Taylor’s Spirit will likely make her next start at Fair Grounds after winning the third stakes race of her young career Friday night in the $50,000 My Trusty Cat at Delta Downs. Trainer Scott Gelner said Taylor’s Spirit is a candidate for the $75,000 Letellier Memorial, a six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies on Dec. 22.

Down the road, Gelner said Taylor’s Spirit could return to Delta for the $75,000 Take Charge Brandi over 7 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 4. He said she also could see stakes action at Oaklawn.

Taylor’s Spirit will be based at Fair Grounds. She won her first stakes in July in the $65,000 Prairie Gold Lassie at Prairie Meadows then captured the $60,000 Happy Ticket in September at Louisiana Downs. She romped by 6 1/4 lengths in the seven-furlong My Trusty Cat.

“The race didn’t take much out of her,” said Gelner.

Taylor’s Spirit races for Mark Norman and Norman Stables.

Taylor’s Spirit has ties to the first winner of the Delta Downs Jackpot. Her third dam, Just Out, produced Outta Here, who won the race’s inaugural running in December 2002.

Loooch Racing, Hess eye Oaklawn

Ron Paolucci of Loooch Racing Stables said he is sending horses to Oaklawn Park for the meet that opens in January.

Paolucci said he plans to send about 10 to 15 head for the meet and that the horses will be part of an Oaklawn division to be trained by Bob Hess Jr.

Paolucci also plans to race a few horses in Louisiana at Fair Grounds and Delta Downs and said those runners will be based with trainer Tom Amoss.

Commission meeting at Evangeline

The Louisiana Racing Commission will meet Wednesday at Evangeline Downs. There are two items of significant interest, and following presentations there will be a period for public comment.

The first item concerns a request from the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. The organization is asking the commission to reconsider its August decision to deny the transfer of some purse funds from Delta Downs to the Evangeline meet for Thoroughbreds that opens in April. Both tracks are owned by Boyd Gaming. The commission denied an initial request to move $3.2 million in purse funds.

The second item concerns moving the Quarter Horse meet at Fair Grounds from the summer to spring for 2019. Fair Grounds has requested a 10-date stand from March 26-April 8.