Golden Yank gets rematch on dirt

Golden Yank gets a rematch with Boss Lafitte on Saturday in the $100,000 Prelude Breeders' Cup at Louisiana Downs, and this time their meeting will be over the surface on which Golden Yank is most accomplished, the dirt. The two last faced off on turf, with Boss Lafitte a three-quarter-length winner over runner-up Golden Yank in the $100,000 USA at Lone Star Park.

"I hope it turns out the other way this time," said Gary Thomas, who trains Golden Yank.

The Prelude is for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, and its winner gets a free berth into the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby. The race will be supported by three other stakes Saturday, all of them preps for Super Derby Day stakes at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 20.

Golden Yank has won two stakes, both on dirt and both at two turns. He tried turf for the first time in the USA, a May 26 race in which he closed well after breaking from post 9.

"He started wide and was wide the whole way," Thomas said.

Golden Yank last raced June 14, closing from last to finish second to front-running winner Tizdejavu in the Grade 2 Jefferson Cup at Churchill. Tizdejavu came back in his next start to win the Grade 2 American Derby at Arlington, while Golden Yank has worked at Remington for the Prelude.

"I'd like to see some pace up there to give him something to run at," said Thomas, who has given the mount to Quincy Hamilton.

Boss Lafitte is shortening in distance after finishing fourth in the American Derby, a 1 3/16-mile race. Both of his stakes wins have come at the Prelude trip, in the USA and the Grade 3 Transylvania, which was moved from turf to Polytrack at Keeneland. Gerard Melancon has the mount for trainer Tom Amoss.

Also in the eight-horse Prelude is Star Production, who wired his rivals in the $100,000 Louisiana Breeders' Derby on Aug. 2. He won by eight lengths to earn a Beyer Speed Figure of 102.

"He could bounce, as they sometimes do off those big races, but maybe he won't," said James Hodges, who trains Star Production.

Numismatist and Turnleftatthe-light both won turf allowances over older horses last out at Lone Star. Numismatist invades from Remington.

"Since we've put the blinkers on, he's run a better race each time," trainer Donnie Von Hemel said. "I think maybe he's starting to come around and do what he's got the talent to do."

Turnleftatthelight is in from Retama for trainer Shannon Hastings.