Olga Isabel came out running in her seasonal debut and has a license to make another move forward in Friday night’s $100,000 Saylorville, which is part of the $1.2 million Iowa Festival of Racing at Prairie Meadows. The festival is comprised of eight stakes – four on Friday worth a cumulative $400,000 and another four on Saturday night worth a total of $875,000. First post for both cards is 6 p.m. Central. The Saylorville drew a field of six fillies and mares who will meet over six furlongs. Unsung Melody comes off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs. Happy Am I also will get support for a third in the Roxelana at Churchill. Olga Isabel won the Saylorville’s local prep on June 7, when she darted to a 5 3/4-length victory in the $50,000 Prairie Rose. She covered six furlongs in 1:08.89 while making her first start since Dec. 9. The 90 Beyer Speed Figure she earned is the best last-race number in the Saylorville. “Big race off the layoff,” trainer Brad Cox said. “She obviously likes it at Prairie Meadows, so we thought we would come back a month later for twice as much money. We’re happy with what she’s shown us since that last run.” Cox said the Prairie Rose was a key win for Olga Isabel because it was the first stakes victory for the daughter of Tiznow, who races for her breeder, Top Racing. Olga Isabel is now 5 for 9. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. “She’s very talented,” Cox said. “I felt like we placed her pretty well last year, kind of got her through her conditions.” Olga Isabel closed out 2023 by taking her first shot at stakes company, finishing fifth after contesting the pace in the Garland of Roses in December at Aqueduct. She needed some time,” Cox said of the layoff. “She came back and seemed to be the same filly in the mornings that we saw last year and it gave us the confidence to try [the Prairie Rose]. We thought she could be in the top three in that race. She responded well and ran a big number.” Olga Isabel will break from post 6 under David Cohen. “I think [the post] gives her an opportunity to break and go forward and hopefully not feel too much pressure,” he said, “and she can finish up as well as she did last time.” Faith Alone was second to Olga Isabel in the Prairie Rose and prior to that won an overnight handicap at Prairie. She will break from post 2 under Walter De La Cruz. “It seems like she’s kind of found a niche of closing sprinter,” said trainer Joe Offolter. “We tried to run her long, then when we dropped her back to sprinting. “There’s more speed in this race than last time, so I’m hoping they all hook up and we come and get ’em.” The $100,000 Iowa Sprint drew an accomplished group of six led by millionaire Necker Island, multiple graded stakes winner Jaxon Traveler, the talented Bourbon Heist, and Grade 2 winner Confidence Game. Jaxon Traveler has more natural speed than most of his rivals and he could get an ideal tracking trip off the rail-drawn Count de Monet, who wired the field in the local prep, the Ed Skinner. Jaxon Traveler will break from post 4. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen. Iowa Distaff Take Me Serious will attempt to win her third stakes race of the year in the $100,000 Iowa Distaff, which will scratch down to a field of six with the defection of Pigalle. Pigalle was to have started as one of the top choices alongside Magical Lute and Lacie Be Good, but will be scratched, according to Walker Hancock of owner Claiborne Farm. Take Me Serious won a pair of stakes races earlier this year at Will Rogers Downs – the Miranda Diane at six furlongs in March while making her first start since December 2022, and the More Than Even at two turns in May. “We missed a year with her because she got a little sick on us and just couldn’t get over it,” Offolter said. “She runs short or long and I wouldn’t have been afraid to run her short [in the Saylorville]. But I think she’s a little better going long, so that’s where she went.” :: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!  Take Me Serious was third last out in the local prep for the Iowa Distaff, the Jack Bishop. “I think she’ll be up close to the front end,” Offolter said. “I hope she’ll relax a little bit more than she did last time. Last time, she was revved up a little bit. We’ve trained her a little different and hopefully she’ll be a little more relaxed this time.” ◗ Elegant Justice should get good support in the $100,000 Prairie Gold Lassie for 2-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs off a more than 10-length debut win for which she earned a Beyer of 70. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.