Jovie G will take on male rivals in the $50,000 Yellow Hammer on Sunday at Louisiana Downs. She looks like the one to beat.
Jovie G will be going a mile on turf in the race restricted to Alabama-breds who have never won two statebred stakes worth $50,000. The 4-year-old filly won a maiden race over the local John Franks turf course last July.
The Yellow Hammer, which is for 3-year-olds and up, drew a field of nine. There are two other fillies in the race, Lemon Fizz and T V C One Five.
Jovie G has run second in three straight restricted stakes in her last three outs, and those races have all come against male rivals. She set the pace over seven furlongs last time and appears likely to show the way again Sunday.
Trainer Jonathan Wong, who is winning at a 35 percent clip at the meet, will add a set of blinkers to Jovie G’s equipment.
The Yellow Hammer on Sunday ushers in the stakes schedule this meet at Louisiana Downs. The next major offering on the calendar is the Louisiana Cup program of six divisional stakes Aug. 30. Each of those races, which are restricted to horses bred in Louisiana, is worth $75,000.
The stakes schedule closes with the Super Derby, which will be worth $250,000 when it is run Sept. 6. It will be contested over 1 1/8 miles.
Louisiana Downs is racing through Sept. 23.
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