Wholelottamo cutting back for Acadiana Stakes

Wholelottamo will be cutting back to one turn for the first time since last year for Friday night’s $60,000 Acadiana at Evangeline Downs, and trainer Jayde Gelner is looking forward to the distance switch.

The Acadiana is a six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies. It drew a field of seven, including the stakes-placed pair of Miss Jana and Courtly Doc from the barn of trainer Jerry Cart.

Wholelottamo was a stakes winner around two turns in February, when she captured the $75,000 Take Charge Brandi at seven furlongs at Delta Downs. It was her second stakes win behind the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies at six furlongs last August at Louisiana Downs.

“I think she’ll like the cutback in distance,” Gelner said. “She won the stakes at three-quarters.

“I’m a big fan of going from a route to a sprint. I think a lot of horses improve. They sit. From a route to a sprint they’re more relaxed, make that one big move toward the end, usually come running.”

Wholelottamo gave Gelner his first training win – and first stakes victory – in the Take Charge Brandi. The 21-year-old is the son of Louisiana-based trainer Scott Gelner. This spring, the younger Gelner will have a 26-horse stable in Texas, at the Lone Star Park meet that opens April 28.

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But the first order of business is Friday’s race with Wholelottamo, who is the most accomplished member of the Acadiana field as a two-time stakes winner. The daughter of Mo Tom is owned by Thompson Racing.

Jayde Gelner said Wholelottamo has a strong personality.

“She’s very opinionated on what she likes and what she doesn’t like,” he said. “She’s been a really good horse to be around. She’s tough.”

Timothy Thornton, who is coming off the riding title at Delta Downs, has the mount from post 7.

“She’s training well, breezed well the other day,” Gelner said. “We’re looking for a good performance.”

Cart will counter with Miss Jana, who was second by a head in the Take Charge Brandi, and Courtly Doc, who was second by a length in the $75,000 Crescent City Oaks in March at Fair Grounds.

Sassy Emma cuts back to one turn following a sixth-place finish in the Take Charge Brandi. Both of her career wins have come at five furlongs at Delta Downs.

Run Natalie Run is the lone horse in the field who is not cutting back from two turns. She comes off a maiden win over six furlongs at Fair Grounds. Run Natalie Run could set the pace from her rail post, and Sassy Emma could be in close attendance. Wholelottamo figures to be making her case through the lane Friday.

The Acadiana is the first stakes of the young meet at Evangeline.