Is Too facing tough test in River Cities

Is Too will be facing the toughest test of her career Saturday when she seeks to win her third consecutive stakes in the $60,000 River Cities at Louisiana Downs. The race is one of six turf stakes on a 13-race card led by the Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby.

The River Cities, for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, drew a field of 11. The group includes Remember Daisy, a Louisiana-bred who was sixth last out in the Grade 1 Beverly D., and invading allowance winners Ruffina and Lounge Act.

“This race came up a little tougher,” said Eddie Johnston, who trains Is Too. “I think she’ll run her race. I think her number will show up.”

Is Too is in the best form of her career right now. She defeated open company in the $50,000 Opelousas, which came off the turf July 12 at Evangeline Downs. Is Too returned in her next start to win the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for statebreds Aug. 3 at Louisiana Downs.

“She’s mentally developing,” Johnston said. “She’s more stable. She was a little nervous when she was younger. Now, she’s starting to settle herself and she’s become more professional. She’s growing up and she’s a 4-year-old now. She needed to grow up.”

Is Too will break from post 2 under regular rider Colby Hernandez.

“I’m very happy with the inside post,” Johnston said. “She can break and get position.

“She should be with the pace early. We’ll have to see what happens.”

Remember Daisy has locked horns with graded rivals in her last two starts, running fourth to Juliet Foxtrot in the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap in July at Arlington then hooking six-time Grade 1 winner Sistercharlie in Arlington’s Beverly D. on Aug. 10. The last time Remember Daisy was seen in her home state of Louisiana, she won three straight races between Delta Downs and Fair Grounds. Timothy Thornton has the mount from post 9 for trainer Gary Scherer.

Rematch in Sunday Silence

Sea Bee Salute will try to turn the tables on Deviant in the $60,000 Sunday Silence for 2-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs one start after finishing a troubled sixth to that one in the El Joven at Retama Park. The colts are part of a 10-horse field that also includes El Joven runner-up Valiant Defender.

Sea Bee Salute was a supplement to the El Joven after a sharp maiden special weight win on the grass at Evangeline Downs. He ended up 13 lengths behind dominant winner Deviant in the one-mile turf race on Aug. 14.

“We never had a chance,” said Shane Wilson, who trains Sea Bee Salute. “We didn’t break well. He got bounced around leaving there, got stuck in a pocket – was buried the entire race.

“I think he’s a really nice colt. He handled the trip over there, stepped off the trailer and didn’t have a wet spot on him. I think if he could have broke clean and been laying second or third, there might have been a different outcome. But that’s horse racing. Sometimes it goes your way, and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Thornton has the mount from post 10 for Patricia and Kevin Fontenot.

Deviant, who was a 7 3/4-length winner of the El Joven, will break from the rail under Lane Luzzi.

The companion race for 2-year-old fillies, the $60,000 Happy Ticket, drew Tizsfranderella, who won the La Senorita on the same card as the El Joven. She is seeking to remain perfect in three career starts, with both of her wins on turf, starting with a maiden special weight score at Evangeline Downs.

“She’s got bloodlines top and bottom to route on the grass,” said trainer Justin Jeansonne. “That’s what we got her for.”

Tommy Pompell has the mount from post 11.

The chief rivals appear to be Envied, who makes her stakes debut after winning a maiden special weight at a mile on turf July 5 at Ellis Park, and Josie, a maiden special weight winner in June at Churchill Downs.

Big Changes must overcome post 12 to win the $60,000 Frank L. Brothers, a race he captured a year ago when it was called the Unbridled. The Brothers – named for the horseman recently inductee into the new Louisiana Downs Hall of Fame – is for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. Others set to start include Kurilov, a Group 1 winner making his first start since September 2018, and Louisiana Downs stakes winners Theoryintopractice and In the Navy.

◗ The card also includes the $60,000 Elge Rasberry and $60,000 A.L. “Red” Erwin, mile races for 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana.