Louisiana: Well-matched field

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Mysia Jo, who has won two of her last four starts, meets a tough-to-separate field of fillies in the $50,000 Honeymoon Stakes at Louisiana Downs.

The one-mile turf race is a first look at the locals pointing for the richest turf race of the meet, the $150,000 River Cities Breeders' Cup on Sept. 7.

Others of note in the nine-horse field include coupled stakes winners Due to Win and Due to Win Again, and the developing fillies Golden Rhythm and Strawbailey.

Mysia Jo has registered the bulk of her success on turf. In recent races, she has won the $100,000 Red Camelia Handicap for statebreds at Fair Grounds in March, as well as a tough open-company allowance at Lone Star Park near Dallas in May.

Mysia Joe has worked sharply for the Honeymoon for trainer Cole Norman, who has given the mount to Austin Lovelace.

David Guillory will ride Golden Rhythm, who has more natural speed than Mysia Jo. In her last start, the filly used stalking tactics to win a $50,000 optional claimer at Lone Star on May 19 by a length. Earlier in the Lone Star meet, Golden Rhythm finished second to the well-regarded La Recherche in a division of the $75,000 Irving Distaff. She is trained by Paul Murphy.

Strawbailey is looking for her third consecutive win Saturday. She won a turf allowance two back over Due to Win Again, and in her most recent start beat Due to Win by a length in a main track race that was scheduled for turf. Trainer Joe Offolter has given the mount to Tim Doocy.

Post for the first race on Saturday is 1:45 p.m. Central.