Halo Humor looks like mortal lock

She won her career debut last summer at Saratoga. She followed up with a win in allowance company at odds-on, also in upstate New York, before chasing home Folklore, 2005's likely 2-year-old filly champion, in the Grade 1 Matron at Belmont Park.

She was ridden in all three by the most recognizable name in the business, Jerry Bailey, and she is handled by the country's winningest trainer the last two seasons, Steve Asmussen.

Who is she?

The answer is Halo Humor, who will be the prohibitive favorite Friday night at Evangeline Downs when she faces fellow Louisiana-breds for the first time in the $75,000 Lil Liza Jayne Stakes.

The 5 1/2-furlong race drew a field of six and will be run as the first race on the 10-race program, which gets under way at 6:45 p.m. Central.

A daughter of Distorted Humor owned by Heiligbrodt Racing, Halo Humor has been training well for her return at Asmussen's regional headquarters at Louisiana Downs. Roman Chapa, the leading rider at the current Fair Grounds meeting, will make the journey down Interstate 49 to ride Halo Humor.

Fellow two-time winners Gracie's Gem and Sixteen Grand appear to be the main threats, although both come off unplaced efforts in the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Dec. 10. Guy Smith will ride Gracie's Gems, while Brian Hernandez has the call on Sixteen Grand.