Eramia loaded with mounts on all-stakes program

Louisiana Downs will run nothing but stakes races on Saturday. The nine-race program features the $60,000 Prelude, which is a prep for the Super Derby; the annual Louisiana Cup of divisional stakes for Louisiana-breds; and a couple of turf stakes moved north from Evangeline Downs.

Purses for the card total $460,000. The program is the first of two major stakes days at Louisiana Downs, and the races are expected to produce starters for the Super Derby card of stakes Sept. 9. First post Saturday is 3:15 p.m. Central.

Louisiana Downs leading rider Richard Eramia is named to ride in eight of the nine stakes. Among his top mounts is Mr. Al’s Gal, who will be looking for her sixth straight win when she runs in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

“She’s a nice filly, a really nice Louisiana-bred,” said Eramia. “She knows what she’s doing.”

Eramia on Monday morning was driving from his Texas home to ride at Louisiana Downs. He won the Lone Star Park title on Sunday night, his first at the Dallas-area track. Eramia is a multiple title winner at Louisiana Downs. He has been riding this summer at both tracks, which only conflict on Sundays.

“When Louisiana Downs changed the days they raced, it worked perfect,” said Eramia, who has a house near Lone Star.

Eramia’s other mounts on the Louisiana Downs stakes card are Paternal Pride in the $50,000 John Henry, Safari Calamari in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff, Girls Life in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies, Extra Credit in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic, Spring Value in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint, Royal By Nature in the Prelude, and Emerald Pond in the $50,000 Opelousas.

With the Super Derby being moved to grass this year, the Prelude will be run on turf at 1 1/16 miles. Royal By Nature, who won last year’s Sunday Silence over the turf at Louisiana Downs, is part of an eight-horse field. The field from the rail is: Fast Talkin Man, Mr. Misunderstood, Royal By Nature, Magic Vow, Queeten, Jilotepec, Score’s Choice, and Mizztic Tale.