Mouton has rising star in Hottamolly

It appears Pat Mouton, trainer of the now-retired The Beter Man Can, has come up with another top-flight Louisiana-bred filly. Hottamolly rallied to win the $50,000 Fantasia by 3 1/4 lengths Saturday at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La.

She covered the six furlongs in 1:10.38 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

"I thought it was great," Mouton said. "It really didn't surprise me, to be honest with you."

The win was the third straight for Hottamolly. Heading into the Fantasia, she had won back-to-back allowances at Evangeline Downs by a combined margin of 12 1/2 lengths. To go with her talent, Hottamolly has a strong pedigree. She is a daughter of Sky Classic and out of a sister to Zuppardo Ardo, a Grade 2 winner of $667,886.

"We'll probably, at one point in time, try to stretch her out and see if she'll do it," said Mouton, "but as good as she's sprinting, I'm going to try to keep her there for a while."

Mouton has not set next-race plans for Hottamolly, but said he is considering two statebred days for her. Evangeline Downs will conduct Louisiana Legends Night on July 1, which includes the $75,000 Pierre LeBlanc Memorial for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs. The statebred day at Louisiana Downs is Aug. 19, and there is a six-furlong race for fillies and mares, the $100,000 Victoria.

"We'll look at both of those and decide what to do," said Mouton.

Mouton has 45 horses in training at Louisiana Downs and has won with 4 of his last 5 starters, including Sidebuster B, a half-brother to Hottamolly. He ranks second in the standings behind Cole Norman and Jim Gaston, who are tied with six wins. Gaston has gone 6 for 8 at the young meet, and Mouton is 5 for 9.

True Tails surfaces Friday

True Tails, who has made her last two starts in stakes, returns to the optional claiming ranks Friday in the third race, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. The field of six also includes Tawnka, second at this level in her last start, and Coronado Rose, a stakes winner for trainer Steve Asmussen.

True Tails has finished third in stakes at Oaklawn in her last two starts: the $50,000 Spring Fever at this distance March 4 and the $50,000 Carousel in her last start April 1.

Before those races, True Tails finished third to Grade 1 winner Round Pond in an optional claimer at Oaklawn Feb. 16. True Tails set the pace in that six-furlong race and finished 5 1/4 lengths behind Round Pond, who in her next start won the Grade 3 Azeri Breeders' Cup.

True Tails has excellent speed and has worked consecutive bullets in preparation for her return. Leading rider Carlos Gonzalez has the mount for trainer Cole Norman.

Autrey string at Louisiana Downs

Trainer Cody Autrey, who is winning races at a 45-percent clip at Lone Star Park, has plans to set up a division of his stable at Louisiana Downs.

"I've got 20 stalls there, and I'm going to move horses there the first of the week," Autrey said last week.

Autrey is the second-leading trainer at Lone Star. He raced at Louisiana Downs last year and won stakes at the track with Premier Dance and Majestic Thief.

Kalyrra eyes Chapel Belle

Kalyrra, who won her turf debut by seven lengths in an allowance April 28, is being pointed for the $50,000 Chapel Belle at Louisiana Downs, said her trainer, Bret Calhoun. The one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies is May 27.

Kalyrra has won 3 of 7 starts and is a daughter of Chester House.