Super Derby this Saturday at Louisiana Downs
One of the biggest sporting events in Louisiana, The Super Derby is the premier race in the racing season. Complimented by a tremendous under card of stakes events, the Super Derby is the one day any racing fan will not want to miss!
To celebrate the big day, TwinSpires.com is featuring a 10% Pick 4 Bonus on both the $100,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 (races 8-11) and the Late Pick 4 (races 10-13). For every winning ticket you cash in each Pick 4, you will earn a bonus equal to 10% of your gross winnings, up to $500 per Pick 4 pool.
The contenders for the Super Derby are led by Departing, an 8 3/4-length winner of the West Virginia Derby on August 3. He seeks another Grade 2 prize when he lines up against six opponents in Saturday's Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. The Al Stall Jr.-trained gelding is the even-money favorite on the morning line for the 1 1/8-mile event.
Multiple stakes-placed Bashaar is the early 7-2 second choice. Third in the Iowa Derby two back, the Street Cry colt exits a fourth in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga. The top three finishers in that event -- Palace Malice, Will Take Charge and Moreno -- came back to finish fourth, first and second, respectively, in the $1 million Travers.
Channing Hill picks up the Super Derby mount for trainer Dan Peitz and Bashaar will break from the rail post.
Stakes winner and West Virginia Derby runner-up Ruler of Love comes next on the morning line at 6-1. Scott Spieth retakes the mount for conditioner Joan Scott.
Cameo Appearance will test his mettle against graded foes following a third in his stakes debut, the August 17 Straight Line, at Arlington. He opened 2013 with a pair of convincing wins, breaking his maiden in mid-June before taking an entry-level allowance in mid-July on the Polytrack, and the Wayne Catalano charge adds the services of Patrick Valenzuela.
Catalano will also send out Grade 2 runner-up Treasury Bill, who exits a third in an optional claiming event at Indiana Downs. Rounding out the field are Holiday Mischief, a 16-1 upsetter in the August 3 Prelude at Louisiana Downs, and Prelude third-placer Runaway Stephen.
The Super Derby will be the 11th race on a 13-race card Saturday at Louisiana Downs with first post of 2:25pm ET/11:25am PT. Post time for the Super Derby should be appoximately 6:15pm ET/3:15pm PT.
Bet the 2013 Super Derby and Louisana Downs horse racing online with TwinSpires.com and watch it live on TwinSpiresTV!
The field for the 2013 $500,000 Super Derby
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1 | Bashaar | C.Hill | D C Peitz |
| 2 | Holiday Mischief | M.C. Berry | J S Offolter |
| 3 | Runaway Stephen | C.R. Rosier | J M Foster |
| 4 | Treasury Bill | R.E. Eramia | W M Catalano |
| 5 | Ruler of Love | Ruler of Love | J Scott |
| 6 | Cameo Appearance | P.A. Valenzuela | W M Catalano |
| 7 | Departing | R. Albarado | A M Stall, Jr |
Super Derby Information
When: Saturday, September 7
Where: Louisiana Downs - Bossier City, Louisiana
Post Time: First post time is 2:25pm ETD
Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 fulrongs)
Purse: $500,000
Super Derby History
Inaugurated in 1980, the Super Derby is open to 3-year-olds and the distance is 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. A Grade II event, it's the richest race held at Louisiana Downs. In its history, the Super Derby has attracted some of the top horses in the country including winners of all three American Classic Races.
A Grade I race from its inception until 2002, the Super Derby was originally run at the classic 1mile distance. From 2002 through 2004 it was raced at 11/8 miles then in 2005 it reverted to the original 1miles but went back to the shorter 11/8 format in 2006. The Super Derby currently is a Grade II race that carries a purse of $750,000.
Past Super Derby Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2012 | Bourbon Courage | Leandro R. Goncalves | Kellyn Gorder | Bourbon Lane Stable/Lynn | 1:51.40 |
| 2011 | Prayer for Relief | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables | 1:52.29 |
| 2010 | Apart | Jesse Campbell | Albert Stall, Jr. | Adele B. Dilschneider | 1:52.31 |
| 2009 | Regal Ransom | Richard Migliore | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Stables | 1:49.63 |
| 2008 | My Pal Charlie | Curt Bourque | Albert Stall, Jr. | B. Wayne Hughes | 1:48.36 |
| 2007 | Going Ballistic | Clifton Berry | Donnie Von Hemel | Kindred Thoroughbreds LLC | 1:50.32 |
| 2006 | Strong Contender | Robby Albarado | John T. Ward, Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1:48.60 |
| 2005 | The Daddy | Pablo Morales | Salvador Gonzalez | Greg Norman | 2:03.15 |
| 2004 | Fantasticat | Gerald Melancon | Bobby Barnett | R Bar S Thoroughbreds | 1:51.40 |
| 2003 | Ten Most Wanted | Pat Day | Wallace Dollase | J. Paul Reddam et al. | 1:50.77 |
| 2002 | Essence of Dubai | Jorge F. Chavez | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 1:49.43 |
| 2001 | Outofthebox | Lonnie Meche | Bernie Flint | Richard Klein et al. | 2:06.20 |
| 2000 | Tiznow | Chris McCarron | Jay M. Robbins | M. Cooper & C. Straub-Rubens | 1:59.84 |
| 1999 | Ecton Park | Alex Solis | W. Elliott Walden | Mark H. Stanley | 2:00.59 |
| 1998 | Arch | Corey Nakatani | Frank L. Brothers | Claiborne & A. B.Dilschneider | 2:01.20 |
| 1997 | Deputy Commander | Chris McCarron | Wallace Dollase | Horizon Stable | 2:01.20 |
| 1996 | Editor's Note | Gary L. Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 2:02.10 |
| 1995 | Mecke | Jerry Bailey | Emanuel Tortora | James Lewis, Jr. | 2:00.10 |
| 1994 | Soul of the Matter | Kent Desormeaux | Richard Mandella | Burt Bacharach | 2:03.20 |
| 1993 | Wallenda | Herb McCauley | Frank A. Alexander | Dogwood Stable | 2:02.30 |
| 1992 | Senor Tomas | Aaron Gryder | Peter M. Vestal | Thomas Carey | 2:04.00 |
| 1991 | Free Spirit's Joy | Calvin Borel | Clarence Picou | John Lane et al. | 2:00.40 |
| 1990 | Home At Last | Jerry Bailey | Carl Nafzger | R. L. Reineman Stables | 2:02.00 |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | Pat Valenzuela | Charlie Whittingham | H-G-W Partners | 2:03.10 |
| 1988 | Seeking The Gold | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 2:03.40 |
| 1987 | Alysheba | Chris McCarron | Jack Van Berg | Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer | 2:03.10 |
| 1986 | Wise Times | Eddie Maple | Phil Gleaves | R. L. Reineman Stables | 2:04.00 |
| 1985 | Creme Fraiche | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Brushwood Stables | 2:02.40 |
| 1984 | Gate Dancer | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Jack Van Berg | Kenneth Opstein | 2:00.10 |
| 1983 | Sunny's Halo | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | David C. Cross, Jr. | David J. Foster Stable | 2:01.30 |
| 1982 | Reinvested | Jorge Velasquez | Lefty Nickerson | Harbor View Farm | 2:01.30 |
| 1981 | Island Whirl | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Elcee-H Stable | 2:03.10 |
| 1980 | Temperence Hill | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | Loblolly Stable | 2:06.30 |
About Louisiana Downs
Louisiana Downs, located on 350 acres near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana opened on October 30, 1974 with approximately 15,000 fans in attendance for the first day of its inaugural meet. Built by the late shopping-center magnate, Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr., the track was a success from the start, setting numerous national records for handle and attendance throughout the 1970's and '80's.
In 1980, plans were announced for the first running of the Super Derby, a 1-1/4 mile race to be run in the fall with the hope of attracting the best three-year-olds in the country and to have an impact on the end-of-the year championships. With a $500,000 purse, the race was the richest ever for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. On October 18, 1980, Belmont Stakes winner Temperence Hill won the inaugural Super Derby and became only the third Thoroughbred in history to earn more than $1 million. In its 24 runnings, the Super Derby has attracted four Kentucky Derby winners, four Preakness Stakes winners, five Belmont Stakes winners and seven Travers Stakes winners. Six previous Super Derby entrants have won the prestigious Breeders' Cup Classic and three Super Derby winners, Tiznow, Sunday Silence and Alysheba have been voted the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year, the industry's highest award. The race has rightfully taken its place nationally as one of the most anticipated of the year.
Purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December, 2002, the track continues its commitment to presenting the highest quality and most exciting Thoroughbred racing each and every day of the season while attracting some of the country's top trainers and horses year after year. Every winter, Louisiana Downs hosts a quarter horse meet, showcasing the fastest breed of horses on the planet.
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