Jockamo’s Song possible for Louisiana Cup Sprint

Jockamo’s Song, who invaded from the East Coast to win the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint last Saturday night at Evangeline Downs, could stay down south a little longer.

Trainer Michael Stidham said Monday that Jockamo’s Song is being considered for the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint. The six-furlong race for statebreds is Aug. 5 at Louisiana Downs.

“We generally give him a little break during the summer to have him ready for the Fair Grounds,” Stidham said. “It’s enticing, since he ran so well, to consider the stakes at Louisiana Downs. We’re going to watch him over the next week or so and make a decision on whether we wait around and run him.”

Jockamo’s Song put in a strong closing bid to win the Louisiana Legends Sprint by a length, covering 5 1/2 furlongs in a quick 1:03.60. Prior to that start, the horse had been racing in turf sprints at Laurel in Maryland. Jockamo’s Song defeated a field of 12 on Saturday.

“We were delighted,” said Stidham, who trains the horse for Dare to Dream Stable. “He had run well on the dirt before, but most of his races recently had been sprinting on the turf, so you’re never sure when you go back to a dirt surface how they’re going to respond. He obviously loved it.”

Stidham said if Jockamo’s Song bypasses the Louisiana Cup, he could await the Louisiana Champions Day program this winter at Fair Grounds.

“We’ll just take it race by race,” Stidham said.

Stidham’s current base is the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md.

High Providence inspires BC Dreams

High Providence won a twoturn turf race for 2-year-olds like a horse with a future last Saturday night at Lone Star Park near Dallas.

He rallied from last for a 1 1/2-length victory in his career debut and handled a number of variables, including shipping from his base of Louisiana Downs.

“I thought he was pretty straightforward, did his job,” said Jason Meaux, who trains High Providence for Run For The Cross. “He handled the ship good, handled the paddock like a pretty good professional.”

Meaux said the next step for the horse could be the $60,000 Sunday Silence, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 9.

“We’re going to look toward the Sunday Silence at Louisiana Downs, and if he runs well, we’re going to look for a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In, most likely the race that comes up at Keeneland.”

The Bourbon on Oct. 8 is a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Meaux said the goal had long been to debut High Providence on the grass. The horse is by Wrote, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in 2011. High Providence is out of the winning Military mare Gonna, who is a half-sister to the millionaire Carve. High Providence’s third dam, Liable, produced Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame.

“That’s what really sold him for us, the bottom side on this colt,” Meaux said of the pedigree searched out by one of the partners in Run For The Cross.

High Providence was a $2,500 purchase last year at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.

“In this game, you always dream,” Meaux said. “You always start out with a 2-yearold saying, ‘What’s the plan? Where do we go with this?’ I like to dream big. The end goal for this horse, if he’s good enough, is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.”

Meaux will be in action Wednesday at Louisiana Downs with Biblical Strength, a leading contender in the first race.

◗ Safari Calamari goes in the fifth race Wednesday at Louisiana Downs, an optional $17,500 claimer for fillies and mares on turf that could serve as her steppingstone to the Louisiana Cup program, according to trainer Ron Faucheux.