Millionaire Shotgun Hottie seeks graded glory in Locust Grove

The millionaire 5-year-old mare Shotgun Hottie will seek her first graded-stakes victory in her impressive career when she faces a well-matched group of eight fillies and mares entered in the 40th running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Locust Grove Stakes on Saturday at 3:53 p.m. EDT at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux for Omar Aldabbagh and Jeff Ganje, Shotgun Hottie finished a neck behind Scylla 10 weeks ago in the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs. A six-time winner, Shotgun Hottie reached millionaire status in her last start when she finished second to Raging Sea in the Shuvee Stakes (G2) at Saratoga. The daughter of Gun Runner will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 7.

Shotgun Hottie is set to face several other impressive fillies and mares in the Locust Grove including Claiborne Farm’s recent Groupie Doll Stakes heroine Pigalle. The homebred daughter of Blame pulled a shocking 23-1 upset one month ago in the Groupie Doll Stakes at Ellis Park when she made a bold rally in deep stretch and surged late to defeat Fancy by a neck. Jockey Luan Machado, who rode Pigalle in the Groupie Doll, will have the return call in the Locust Grove and break from post 5.

The Locust Grove field also will include the top Louisiana-bred earner of all-time, Free Like a Girl. Free Like a Girl burst into the Louisiana-bred record books three weeks ago at Charles Town when she won the $500,000 Pink Ribbon Stakes by three-quarters of a length to boost her career earnings to $1,916,978. Trained by Deville Pomier, Free Like a Girl will be ridden by Luis Saez out of post 2.