Mr Money Bags to seek payday in Pat Day Mile

Mr Money Bags, who has won back-to-back stakes at Sam Houston by a combined 18 1/2 lengths, is now eyeing graded company. Trainer Mike Neatherlin said the horse is being pointed for the Grade 3, $400,000 Pat Day Mile on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

Mr Money Bags has defeated restricted stakes company in his last two starts, winning a Texas Stallion Stakes division by 11 1/2 lengths on Feb. 23, then taking the Groovy for Texas-breds by seven lengths March 23. Both races came over six furlongs, and for each he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89.

“He’s a really talented horse,” said Neatherlin, who trains Mr Money Bags for his breeder, Roy Cobb.

Neatherlin said he wants more ground for the horse and liked the gradual move to a mile for the Triple Crown-nominated Mr Money Bags.

“If he does good there, maybe there’s the possibility of the Preakness,” said Neatherlin.

Neatherlin said a backup plan for Mr Money Bags would be the $100,000 Robert Hilton Memorial, a seven-furlong race run around two turns April 20 at Charles Town.

Sam Houston was to close its meet Saturday night. Neatherlin said plans are to ship Mr Money Bags to Louisiana Downs, where the trainer will be based when that meet opens in May.