Louisiana Downs: Sittin At the Bar dead heats in Elge Rasberry to earn $100K bonus

Sittin At the Bar won twice Saturday at Louisiana Downs. She finished in a dead-heat with Kisses for Carrots for the win in the $150,000 Elge Rasberry, and with the victory earned a $100,000 bonus from the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

The Elge Rasberry was one of six restricted stakes on the card. The races were worth a cumulative $600,000. Of them, the Elge Rasberry and $150,000 A.L. “Red” Erwin were originally scheduled for turf, but were moved to the main track after heavy rains hit Friday.

Sittin At the Bar is the first horse to win the Bayou State Bonus, which is tied to the annual yearling auction put on by the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The bonus was introduced in 2006.

Sittin At the Bar ($2.10) was the 3-5 favorite Saturday, but her trip was far from ideal. She broke with the field in the mile and 70-yard race, but went into the first turn eight wide, carried out by a rival. Sittin At the Bar got back in the game down the backside, moving up to fifth as Dream Life took the field through a half-mile in 48.40 seconds and six furlongs in 1:14.65.

At the quarter pole, Sittin At the Bar drew even with the leader and then gained the advantage in the stretch. Approaching the wire, she held firm when joined by a closing Kisses for Carrots ($2.60). After several minutes of review, the race was declared a dead heat. The fillies covered the distance on a track upgraded to fast in 1:45.29.

Mark Guidry rode Sittin At the Bar for Dale Ladner and trainer Brett Brinkman. Diego Saenz was aboard Kisses for Carrots for J.R. Querbes, III, who owns the horse in partnership with trainer Andrew Leggio Jr.

Kisses for Carrots earned $60,000 for the win, while Sittin At the Bar picked up $160,000 as the bonus money will be added to her earnings, confirmed Roger Heitzmann of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Sittin At the Bar has now won 8 of 13 starts and $578,140. Of her wins, seven have come in stakes. She is a daughter of Into Mischief and she was bred by Spendthrift Farm.

The Elge Rasberry was restricted to graduates of the annual Breeders Sales Co., of Louisiana yearling auction that the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will put on again Tuesday in West Monroe, La. Sittin At the Bar was a $30,000 purchase in 2011. She was eligible for the bonus heading into Saturday’s race by virtue of her wins in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie at Fair Grounds last December and the $75,000 Crescent City Oaks at the New Orleans track in March.

** In other stakes, Palmy Bay ($3) was always prominent to win the Erwin, for 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana. Jockey Richard Eramia was aboard for trainer Pat Mouton. The race was restricted to graduates of the yearling auction put on by the Breeders Sales Co. of Louisiana.

** Say Charlie ($23.20) won his debut in the $100,000 colts and geldings division of the Louisiana Stallion Stakes for 2-year-olds. Gerard Melancon was aboard for trainer Steve Flint. Lady Grantham ($4.60) took the $100,000 fillies division of the Louisiana Stallion Stakes. Jansen Melancon, the son of Gerard Melancon, was aboard for Brinkman.

** Little Miss Flurry ($3.60) improved her record to 2- or 2 when she won the $50,000 Lady Razorback for 2-year-old fillies bred in Arkansas. Don Simington was aboard for trainer Karl Broberg. In the $50,000 Razorback for 2-year-old colts and geldings bred in Arkansas, Wargamer won his maiden and paid $29.80. Shane Laviolette was aboard for trainer Tammy Hornsby.