Cascade Cruiser could end Roussel's stakes drought in St. Louis Derby

It has been 36 years since native New Orleanian, attorney, horse owner, and trainer Louie Roussel came out of Louisiana with Risen Star, who might have swept the 1988 Triple Crown had he not drawn the rail and suffered an impossible trip finishing third in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Preakness and Belmont.

Cascade Cruiser will not be confused with Risen Star. But this Roussel-trained and -owned 3-year-old suffered his own nightmare trip making his stakes debut last month in the Iowa Derby and can provide Roussel with his first stakes win in almost four years – and horseplayers with a value play – in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby on Saturday night at FanDuel Sportsbook and Slots.

Cascade Cruiser is one of eight entered in the 1 1/16-mile St. Louis Derby, run sporadically since the 1920s at the southern Illinois venue formerly named Fairmount Park. No more than seven will start since Gould’s Gold runs in the Smarty Jones at Parx Racing, according to trainer Kenny McPeek.

McPeek, who won the 2022 St. Louis Derby with Rattle N Roll, still has Real Men Violin for the St. Louis Derby. Real Men Violin, 5-2 second choice on the morning line, held considerably more promise coming into his 3-year-old campaign than he does after five 2024 starts. None came especially close to his 2-year-old peak, a second behind Honor Marie in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

Real Men Violin comes out of the Indiana Derby, where he finished fifth, beaten 9 3/4 lengths, one place and 1 1/2 lengths behind E J Won the Cup, the likely St. Louis Derby favorite. Mike Smith, who was to ride Friday night in West Virginia, has the mount for trainer Doug O’Neill. E J Won the Cup’s high-water mark, a May 27 win in the $300,000 Texas Derby, came several months later than Real Men Violin’s, but his flat showing in Indiana hinted at another horse who has gone beyond his best.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Remington Park shipper Flat Hanby brings a four-race winning streak, though the only open race in that string, the $50,000 Canterbury Derby, was run over a muddy track in a race originally carded for turf. That leaves Hawthorne sprint allowance winner King Anthony and three horses who raced in the Iowa Derby: ninth-place Okie Clipper; Next Level, eighth in a subpar performance; and Cascade Cruiser, sixth while some seven lengths ahead of Next Level.

After making one start for trainer Neil Pessin, Cascade Cruiser was purchased by Roussel in the online dispersal of the late Bob Lothenbach’s stock. In April, the gelding won a Hawthorne maiden route, and about month later returned with an improbable win there facing older rivals in a first-level allowance. Racing seven lengths behind a glacial opening quarter, 25.05, Cascade Cruiser managed to get up by a head with a long, sustained run.

In the Iowa Derby, the gelding broke from post 9 and was ridden indecisively into the first turn, thus winding up some six paths from the fence. He moved in a couple of lanes entering the backstretch, where Cascade Cruiser was moved too early into a relatively strong pace. Three wide and contending around the second turn, Cascade Cruiser held firm to upper stretch and was beaten only seven lengths by perfect-trip winner Henro.

That performance, following the quietly determined Hawthorne score, speaks to a 3-year-old subtly improving race by race – a horse that can give Louie Roussel an overdue stakes victory.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.