Calhoun optimistic about Louies Flower in Prelude

Jockey Jamie Theriot, who teamed with trainer Bret Calhoun for a Breeders’ Cup double in 2010, will join forces with Calhoun at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, when he rides Louies Flower in the $100,000 Prelude. The race is the local prep for the Grade 2, $400,000 Super Derby. It also is the lone open-company stakes on a card of nine restricted stakes worth a cumulative $700,000.

The Prelude, which offers its winner a fees-paid berth into the Super Derby on Sept. 6, had a working list of about five to seven possible starters as of Tuesday. The field for the 1 1/16-mile race was to be drawn Wednesday.

Theriot guided Dubai Majesty and Chamberlain Bridge to separate Breeders’ Cup wins for Calhoun in 2010. And the partnership has since remained strong. Earlier this month, Theriot invaded Lone Star Park near Dallas and guided the Calhoun trainee W V Jetsetter to victory in the $100,000 colts-and-geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity.

Louies Flower, who races for Wes Melcher, shipped in early to Louisiana Downs to prepare for the Prelude.

“He’s had a couple of good works there, and everything really has gone like we wanted,” said Calhoun.

Louies Flower had his final prep for the Prelude last Sunday, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.60. Last year at 2, the horse won the $250,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

The Prelude field also could include Kapenta, a front-running allowance route winner in the slop at Louisiana Downs on July 17. For the effort, he earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 84. Trainer Henry Johnson said Tuesday he would decide on a start Wednesday.

“If it’s a short field, I might run in it,” he said.

Johnson said Tuesday he also was monitoring the weather, noting that rain was forecast for later this week in a development that might suit Kapenta, given his recent effort on a wet track. Earlier in his career, the horse ran second to Ide Be Cool, the reigning Louisiana-bred Horse of the Year, in the $100,000 Pelican at Delta Downs.

Juan Larossa would have the mount in the Prelude if Kapenta runs, said Johnson.

Ide Be Cool has long been pointed for the Prelude, while Gold Appointment could be entered in the race, according to his owner and trainer, Robert Rockwell. Among the other 3-year-olds whom racing officials consider possible are Alamo Heights and Six Spot.

Ibaka, a winner of his last four starts, is nominated to the Prelude but is being pointed for the upcoming meet at Remington, said Calhoun. The horse was bred in Oklahoma.

Calhoun juveniles to Saratoga

Calhoun’s recent 2-year-old stakes winners at Lone Star Park have both landed at Saratoga.

W V Jetsetter was sold privately Friday to R.A. Hill Racing Stable and sent to trainer George Weaver at Saratoga. W V Jetsetter traveled from Churchill Downs to Saratoga on Sunday on a van that also was carrying the Calhoun trainees Fiftyshadesofgold and Vivian Da Bling. Fiftyshadesofgold will run in the Test at Saratoga on Saturday, and Vivian Da Bling will go in the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack there Aug. 10.

Vivian Da Bling remained undefeated in two starts earlier this month, when she romped in the $100,000 fillies division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star. She races for JRita Young Thoroughbreds. In her debut, Vivian Da Bling won a maiden special weight sprint with an 85 Beyer.

◗ Triumph and Song, a three-time stakes winner this past winter at Sam Houston Race Park, is part of a competitive field of older horses in Thursday’s third race at Louisiana Downs. The $35,000 optional-claiming allowance at five furlongs on turf also drew stakes winners Top Cat Boogie and Primetime Dreamer.

◗ The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will award a pair of $1,000 scholarships during the Saturday card at Louisiana Downs. Registration is required, with a drawing to take place around 4:30 p.m. Central.