Louisiana breds have proved time and again that they can compete with top runners all across the country. Over the weekend, Louisiana bred runners performed exceptionally well in open stakes in Iowa, Delaware and Kentucky.

On Friday, July 8th, Janet is Ready, a two-year-old Louisiana bred filly by Custom For Carlos out of Just Call Me Janet won the $100,000 Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes at Prairie Meadows. The Chasey Deville Pomier trainee took the lead soon after the start, led up the backstretch and held on to the lead despite a late challenge to win by a head in her 3rd start.

Then Saturday at Prairie Meadows, Free Like a Girl, also a Chasey Deville Pomier trainee, set the pace in the mile and one sixteenth $225,000 Iowa Oaks (G3). The three-year-old filly dueled with eventual second place runner Falconet around the turn, but failed to move for the lead and held on for third earning graded stakes sire status for El Deal, who leads the list of Louisiana Second Crop sires. Free Like a Girl, who is out of Flashy Prize, was voted 2021 Louisiana Bred two-year-old champion filly. She has started 3 times in 2022, winning two Louisiana bred stakes races, before placing in the G3 Iowa Oaks. Her record to date is 14-7-3-3 with $423,873 in earnings.

Also Saturday, 2021 Louisiana Bred three-year-old champion filly and 2021 Louisiana Horse of the Year, Cilla (California Chrome-Sittin At The Bar), placed second by half a length in the $100,000 Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware Park. A graded stakes winner at 3, Cilla has now accumulated $504,000 in 17 starts with 7 wins, 2 second and 3 thirds.

Then at Ellis Park, Louisiana Bred, Mystique Saboteur ran third among open company in the Pea Patch Overnight Stakes. The filly by Gun Runner out of Jemima’s Pearl, earlier this placed 2nd in the Goldfinsh Stakes at Prairie Meadows.