Free Like a Girl Continues to Ascend the Louisiana-Bred Earners List with a Third-Place Run in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom
by Denis Blake
The goal in any horse race, of course, is to win, but there are times when a third-place finish can almost be a victory. Such was the case for Accredited Louisiana-bred Free Like a Girl in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap on April 13 at Oaklawn Park.
The betting public didn’t give the 5-year-old daughter of Louisiana stallion El Deal much of a chance in one of the sport’s top races for fillies and mares, sending her off as the longest shot in the field at odds of 58-1. While none of the runners were a match for the Bob Baffert trained Adare Manor, who prevailed by 5 ½ lengths, Free Like a Girl put in a game effort and nearly took the runner-up spot. Instead, she was passed late by Flying Connection but was still well clear in third under jockey Freddy Manrrique and banked $112,500 for her effort while proving she belongs in Grade 1 company.
The Apple Blossom earnings boosted Free Like a Girl’s bankroll to $1,418,478 with a stellar record of 17 wins, 10 seconds and six thirds from 38 trips to the post. She is now within striking distance of all-time leading Louisiana-bred earner and the state’s leading stallion, Star Guitar, who earned $1,749,862 with 24 wins from 30 starts. If Free Like a Girl is to pass Star Guitar, she’ll need to go by Happy Ticket first, who earned $1,688,838 and also found success in the Apple Blossom with a second-place finish in the 2006 edition.
Bred by Kim Renee Stover and Lisa Osborne, Free Like a Girl was a $5,500 bargain purchase by Gerald Bruno at the 2020 Equine Sales of Louisiana Yearling Sale. She now runs for Bruno, Jerry Caroom and Chasey Deville Pomier, who also trains.
While many top-level stakes horses make just a handful of starts each year, Free Like a Girl has proven her durability with at least 10 outs in each of her first three years on the track. With six starts to date this year, she’s on track for something in that neighborhood once again. She’s won an amazing 15 stakes in her home state, with one of the most significant coming in last year’s Doris Herbert Memorial on opening day at Fair Grounds. That win made her just one of 10 Louisiana-bred millionaires.
“Reaching $1 million in lifetime earnings has been a long time coming,” said her trainer after that win. “I’ve been doing this since I was a little girl. We’re enjoying the ride. She makes it easy. She makes my life, my job, everything so easy.”
Even though she’s never won a stakes race outside of Louisiana, she has certainly represented her state with valor as she’s hit the board in graded races at Prairie Meadows, Charles Town Races, Remington Park, Sam Houston Race Park and now Oaklawn.
Free Like A Girl with jockey Vicente Del-Cid wins the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Distaff at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photo.
Free Like a Girl’s accolades include the title of champion Louisiana-bred 2-year-old filly in 2021 and dual honors as the state’s top 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year in 2022. For 2023, she was the top older filly/mare, and she figures to be an awards contender for 2024 as well. If her recent form is any indication, she’s also got a solid chance to add the title as the all-time leading Louisiana-bred.