Filly has something in common with Pacman In my opinion

GRAND PRAIRIE -- Although named Elliecat, she's called Elliegator. Anybody who wonders why -- and turns his attention away from her while wondering -- soon discovers the painful reason for the nickname: She's about as vicious and temperamental as an alligator.

Of course, she also could be called Pacman. Like the latest Cowboy, she possesses athletic ability and talent that give her, in forgiving circles, something of a dispensation. In other words, even though she can be dangerous, she's tolerated, and her behavior endured, because she's good. But, then again, she's much faster than Pacman.

Elliecat will be a favorite in Saturday's $50,000 Irving Distaff, one of the day's four stakes races at Lone Star Park.

Yes, in spite of everything she's undeniably good. In February, while tenaciously persevering through the stretch, she won the Chou Croute Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, and she followed with a runner-up finish in the Fortin Handicap. Elliecat has earned $190,646 in her career, most of that in the last year, since joining the stable of trainer Dallas Keen.

One morning, shortly after Elliecat moved into Keen's barn, but before everyone knew just how vicious she could be, two grooms came charging out of her stall and up the shedrow. "The filly is trying to kill us," one of the grooms shouted, as Keen recalls the morning.

And there have been many such mornings. In Keen's barn, there are surveillance cameras that allow the trainer to keep an eye on the horses even when he's not there. The cameras have captured some of the attacks on tape.

She shocked her handler one morning when she reared up in a blink and came down on his shoulders, pinning him as she tried to bite him. She's versatile like that, a real mixed martial arts competitor. She'll rear up and strike out with her forelegs; she'll kick; she'll bite; and she'll employ various attacks in combination.

By Keen's reckoning, Elliecat has attacked, or tried to attack, no fewer than 10 people in the last year. She has attacked even Keen's pony, Wyatt, who no doubt struggled to keep his composure just as the trainer, with jockey Larry Taylor, struggled to unhinge the filly from her victim's neck.

"You always have to look her in the eye," Keen says. "If you take your eye off her, if you use sloppy horsemanship with her, she'll make you pay. Sometimes you can think she's the sweetest filly you've ever seen, but just as you think that and look away, she'll pounce."

James Driver of Irving, in partnership with his wife, Ywachetta, owns Elliecat. Many people, Driver says, have started calling to inquire about possibly purchasing her. And, he says, even though she's "a handful," he's not interested in selling her.

After all, a resident of Irving wants to win the Irving Distaff. And Keen seems to have her figured out. Maybe he could join the Cowboys as an adviser.

The Texas Mile

Monterey Jazz arrived from California for Saturday's $300,000 Texas Mile. The winner of the Strub Stakes, he's the 6-5 favorite in the morning line.

Zanjero, the Indiana Derby winner who'll make his seasonal debut in the Texas Mile, is the 9-5 second choice in the morning line. Shaun Bridgmohan will come here to ride the millionaire for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Also entered are Scrappy Roo (10-1), Going Ballistic (5-1), Gold Wonder (20-1) and Beta Capo (8-1).