FREE LIKE A GIRL DIGS IN FOR GUTSY VICTORY IN THE TREASURE CHEST STAKES AT DELTA DOWNS
THE 5-YEAR-OLD MARE MAKES HISTORY SURPASSING $2 MILLION IN CAREER EARNINGS
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted a quartet of $100,000 stakes races on Friday night. Fans were treated to the Delta Mile, Treasure Chest, Jean Lafitte and the My Trusty Cat. Although many talented equines took part in the activity, it was the 5-year-old mare Free Like a Girl that captured the most attention, as she was attempting to become the first Louisiana-bred to exceed $2 million in career earnings.
Free Like a Girl did not disappoint her fans as she turned in a hard-fought performance under jockey Elio Barrera to get the 20th win of her career and in the process added another $60,000 to her lofty bankroll. In all she has now racked up a total of $2,039,978 during her 44-race career.
Free Like a Girl’s trip in the Treasure Chest began in post position six and she broke well before she was taken off the pace set by Wild Bout Hilary, who covered the opening quarter mile in 22.98 seconds. As the field of seven fillies and mares reached the backstretch, Free Like a Girl began a sustained rally while Wild Bout Hilary clicked off the timer in 46.99 for the half mile.
As the field reached the second turn Free Like a Girl was moving with purpose, as she reached the leader at the head of the homestretch. The fractional time for ¾ of a mile was 1:12.30. Although Free Like a Girl gained a narrow advantage in the upper-stretch, a late contender emerged at the rail in the form of 21-1 longshot Autism Community. In the final strides Free Like a Girl dug in with determination and held off Autism Commenity to win by a head. Abundancia rallied for third, another ¾ of a length behind the runner-up.
Free Like a Girl covered the mile distance of the Treasure Chest in a time of 1:39.85. Each race on the Friday program was contested over a sealed track listed as muddy.
Owned by Gerald Bruno, Jr., Chasey Deville Pomier and Jerry Caroom, Free Like a Girl is a 5-year-old mare by El Deal, out of the Flashy Bull mare Flashy Prize. The Casey Deville Pomier trainee was purchased for the bargain basement price of just $5,500 as a yearling in 2020.
Sent to the gate at odds of .30 cents on the dollar, Free Like a Girl paid $2.60 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Autism Community returned $8.20 to place and $4.20 to show. Abundancia was worth $2.60 to show.