Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Mr Money Bags home for now
Mr Money Bags notched the third stakes win of his young career earlier this month and is now being pointed for the Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby at his Louisiana Downs base, said trainer Mike Neatherlin.
The path the horse will take to the Sept. 7 race is still being determined, as Neatherlin and owner Roy Cobb are considering their options. Mr Money Bags could run next in the $60,000 Prelude on Aug. 3 at Louisiana Downs, but he also is being considered for the Grade 3, $500,000 West Virginia Derby the same day at Mountaineer Park and the $100,000 Bruce D. Memorial on Aug. 11 at Arlington Park, said Neatherlin.
Mr Money Bags popped a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 95 on June 1 when he romped by 11 1/2 lengths in the $65,000 Stymie division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Lone Star Park. The mile race marked his first win at two turns and he covered the distance on a fast track in a sharp 1:36.56.
The Stymie score had added significance because it came following the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs in which Mr Money Bags, who was 13th, had a buckle connecting his new bridle to one of his reins come unfastened. His rider was left with little control during the race, and had to gather Mr Money Bags by the headstall.
“Anytime you have something like that happen to your horse, you have a little bit of worry – you don’t know how they’re going to come back and respond,” Neatherlin said. “The way he came back and responded makes me think more of him than I already had.
“He acted like that just never happened. Mentally, this horse is just so strong. Mentally, he doesn’t let anything affect him.”
Neatherlin sent Mr Money Bags to his farm in North Texas following the Stymie and intended to give him a few weeks off there before returning him to Louisiana Downs. But the plan changed when Mr Money Bags briefly went off his feed – and seemed to be missing someone special.
“He missed his groom, Maria,” Neatherlin said. “He loves her.”
The pair was promptly reunited last week when Mr Money Bags returned to Neatherlin’s barn at Louisiana Downs.
“When I got him in, he was like, ‘Oh, I’m glad to be back here.’ ”
Neatherlin said Mr Money Bags will still get a little break, just at the track.
“I’m going to rest him a few weeks, then start back in light training,” he said.
Mr Money Bags – who is 5 for 7 – registered his other stakes wins in the $65,000 Jim’s Orbit division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at six furlongs Feb. 23 at Sam Houston and the $50,000 Groovy on March 23, also at Sam Houston. He won those races by a combined margin of 18 1/2 lengths. The horse is a son of Silver City.
Two allowances featured
A pair of allowances will highlight the seven-race program Wednesday at Louisiana Downs.
All About Clara picks up a bit more ground in the sixth race, a first-level allowance for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs. She comes off a closing second at the same level going six furlongs here on May 14. Joel Dominguez has the mount for trainer Tim Dixon. The chief threat appears to be Awesome Day.
Dynamite Dan owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 69, in the third race, a conditioned allowance at a mile on turf. The race is restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana. Dynamite Dan was third last out in an optional $12,500 claiming turf route at Louisiana Downs that marked his first start since October. His chief rivals are Guitarzan and Taken Back.
Online Hall voting opens
Louisiana Downs last week announced the formation of a Hall of Fame at the Bossier City, La., track and starting Saturday the public is asked to vote on who will be included in the inaugural class. The online poll located at the Louisiana Downs website will run through June 29. The induction ceremony is July 13.
Voters will be able to choose one name from four separate categories – Horse: Alysheba, Happy Ticket, Shishkabob, or Tiznow; Trainer: Bobby Barnett, Cole Norman, or Jack Van Berg; Jockey: Calvin Borel, Randy Romero, or Angelo Trosclair; Contributor: Pat Pope, Tom Sweeney, or David Vance.
The winners will be part of the inaugural class with the following individuals already selected by a committee: horses Sunday Silence and Free Spirits Joy; trainers Frank L. Brothers and C.W. Walker; jockeys Ron Ardoin and Larry Snyder; and contributors Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. and John Franks.
◗ Turf racing is expected to resume Wednesday night at Evangeline Downs after the Opelousas, La., track was off the turf for all four of last week’s cards. Significant rainfall in the area – five inches, according to Evangeline racing director Chris Warren – led to the turf races being moved to the main track. Evangeline has four turf races scheduled for its nine-race program Wednesday.
◗ Budro Talking, the winner of the Sunday Silence Stakes in 2017 at Louisiana Downs, is being pointed for the track’s $50,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic on Aug. 3, said trainer Mike Neatherlin.