Grasshopper fires a bullet

Grasshopper completed his preparations for the Super Derby on Monday when he worked a bullet five furlongs at his Churchill Downs base. He is scheduled to fly into Louisiana Downs on Wednesday, and will be ridden in Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000 race by Robby Albarado.

Grasshopper worked right after the renovation break, breezing in 1:00.60. The move was the fastest of 33 at the distance. Annie Finney, an exercise rider, was aboard for trainer Neil Howard.

"We were very pleased," said Howard. "I told Annie just a nice, comfortable five-eighths. It didn't need to be the fastest work in the world, but just enough to kind of hold what we've got, plus a little bit. I thought it was a very nice, solid work, and he came back with some spring in his step."

Grasshopper comes into the Super Derby off a runner-up finish to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 25. He earned a Beyer Figure of 107, and will go favored in the Super Derby.

Doug Bredar, racing secretary at Louisiana Downs, said on Monday morning that he is hoping for a field of 10 when entries for the 1o1/8-mile race are taken Wednesday. He said there was little change to the anticipated lineup for the Super Derby over the weekend.

"I don't think there'll be any surprises," Bredar said Monday.

Leonnatus Anteas, the champion 2-year-old last year in Canada, is now definite for the race after working six furlongs in 1:11.80 at his Woodbine base Sunday.

"We wanted a good work in him," said Kevin Attard, who trains Leonnatus Anteas. "I wanted to kind of tighten him up, and make sure all systems were a go. When you're going to ship that far and run against some salty horses, you want to make sure that you're on top of your game."

Attard said Leonnatus Anteas was scheduled to van from Toronto to Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday afternoon, then fly from there to Shreveport, La., on Wednesday. It is about a 12-hour van ride from Woodbine to Louisville.

Past the Point will fly to Louisiana Downs on same Wednesday flight, which originates in New York, where he is based. The runner-up in the $82,000 Lemon Drop Kid last out at Saratoga, he was a go for the race as of Monday morning, according to his trainer, Eoin Harty. Harty said Rafael Bejarano has the mount in the Super Derby.

Cliff Berry will be aboard Going Ballistic, according to his trainer, Donnie Von Hemel. Von Hemel will also start Strong City, the third-place finisher to Forty Acres in the $100,000 Prelude, the local prep for the Super Derby. Quincy Hamilton has the mount on Strong City, who along with Going Ballistic is scheduled to van in from Lone Star Park on Thursday.

The Super Derby will be part of a $100,000-guaranteed pick four that will also include three turf stakes at Louisiana Downs. In all, five stakes will be run at the track Saturday.