Louisiana Downs: Love You Baby going back to dirt for Louisiana Cup

In just two career starts, Love You Baby has already conquered both racing surfaces at Louisiana Downs. She won her debut on the main track in May, and on Saturday came back and proved capable on turf with a 2 3/4-length score in the $50,000 Princess. Love You Baby will now head back to dirt for her next start, which is to come in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies at Louisiana Downs, said her trainer, Ronnie Ward.

“Even though she handled the turf good, I think she’ll be a better filly on the dirt at this time,” said Ward, who trains Love You Baby for her breeder, Bayou Fitness Thoroughbred Division.

Love You Baby is by Petionville, a multiple graded stakes winner on dirt whose victories included the Louisiana Derby. She made her debut in a maiden special weight at 4 1/2 furlongs at Louisiana Downs on May 20, and drew out by more than seven lengths. Love You Baby then came back and took the Princess, a five-furlong turf sprint Saturday.

“Her first race, she ran a tremendous race,” said Ward. “Her numbers were great and everything. We came back and worked her on the grass, and she worked like a 48-flat [half-mile], worked just easy. That told us the filly would take to the grass. And she did everything impressively” in the Princess.

Love You Baby was part of a three-way pace battle into the stretch, then separated herself from her rivals. For the effort, she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 71. Love You Baby will be traveling six furlongs in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies, which is restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. The race is Aug. 18.