Rasberry field lacks turf form

BOSSIER CITY, La. - A rare weekday stakes race will be run Friday at Louisiana Downs - the $50,000 Elge Rasberry, which drew an overflow field of 14 Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies. The headliner will be run at about one mile on the turf.

There is no shortage of stakes performers in the Rasberry, as five of the fillies have earned black type - but established turf form is much harder to find. Half of the horses of will be making their turf debuts, including multiple stakes winners Hottamolly and Tortuga Flats.

is coming off a disappointing third-place finish in the $75,000 Frank Abadie at Evangeline Downs on July 1. Making her first start around two turns, she was the 3-5 favorite, but she ran evenly, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind the winning Grand Facile, whom she faces again on Friday.

A daughter of turf multimillionaire Sky Classic, Hottamolly had won three races in a row, all sprints, going into the Abadie. Included in the string was an impressive performance in the Fantasia Stakes at Louisiana Downs on May 13. Regular rider Gerard Melancon will ride for trainer Pat Mouton.

also has been a terror going one turn on dirt. The Ralph Irwin-trained runner has won 5 of 8 starts, including three consecutive stakes wins at Louisiana Downs as a 2-year-old. Her most recent start was in the Fantasia, where she finished second behind Hottamolly. Luis Quinonez will ride.

is the lone stakes winner on grass running in the Rasberry. A daughter of Leestown, she won the Sarah Lane's Oates against fellow Louisiana-bred fillies at the Fair Grounds meeting that was conducted at Louisiana Downs this winter. Like Tortuga Flats, she also was recently defeated by Hottamolly, but she stands to benefit more than most on Friday from the change in surface. Trainer Larry Robideaux has leading rider Carlos Gonzalez aboard.

Longshot players might look toward . Another daughter of Leestown, Tensas Ciel is an improving filly for trainer Mike Burgess who comes in off a fast-closing second in a second-level allowance race over the local turf course on June 30. Her stalking running style should do well Friday because there is ample early speed in the field. David Bourque rides.

The undefeated Eightforbish drew onto the also-eligible list for her first foray into the stakes ranks. Eightforbish has run quickly through her conditions, all while going two turns. E.J. Perrodin will ride if she draws in.