Ide Be Cool tests open company in Prelude Stakes

The $100,000 Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Saturday is the lone open-company race on a program of nine stakes, but the Super Derby prep will have a good amount of Louisiana-bred flair when the state’s reigning Horse of the Year, Ide Be Cool, puts his 7-for-7 record on the line in the race.

He’s part of a seven-horse field that also includes Gold Appointment, who was scratched from the West Virginia Derby, and Louies Flower, the winner of the $250,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park.

The Prelude, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds, offers its winner a fees-paid berth into the Grade 2, $400,000 Super Derby on Sept. 6. It’s a perk worth between $4,000 and $5,000, depending on a horse’s nomination schedule. The Prelude will go as the eighth race on a Louisiana Cup program that also includes eight divisional stakes for statebreds, with those races drawing such horses as String King and Designer Legs.

Ide Be Cool will be stepping outside the Louisiana-bred ranks for the first time. He was freshened this spring after winning four straight stakes at Fair Grounds and Delta Downs, and in his comeback July 13, he defeated older rivals in an allowance sprint. The move back to two turns should suit the horse, said his owner and trainer, Ray Dunn.

“He was at Delta Downs, and Delta is a much deeper track than what we’ve got up here,” Dunn said. “He ran a mile there, and he seemed to do better at that distance than he does at six furlongs. I don’t think the distance is going to bother him.”

Key Contenders

Ide Be Cool (Last 3 Beyers: 92-75-91)

He owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the Prelude and appears to have more natural speed than most of his rivals. As such, he could show the way or track Gold Appointment.

“The other Louisiana-bred horse in there has got some speed,” Dunn said of Gold Appointment. “We’re just going to run our race and go from there and hope we do good.”

Chris Rosier has the mount from post 6.

Gold Appointment (Last 3 Beyers: 80-38-86)

He shipped from Louisiana to run in the West Virginia Derby, but a new change in recommended withdrawal times for Clenbuterol put the horse at risk for a positive test because he had recently been treated with the drug for a minor illness. His connections scratched, then decided to ship to Louisiana Downs.

The horse who started his career on turf defeated older horses in a main-track allowance sprint at Evangeline Downs in his last start July 10. It was his third win on dirt in a career that includes a March score in the $75,000 Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds.

“He’s undefeated on the dirt,” said Gold Appointment’s owner and trainer, Robert Rockwell. “His last race, he was actually geared down.”

Miguel Mena has the mount.

Louies Flower (Last 3 Beyers 66-65-54)

He’s back on the main track following a 10th-place finish in the $200,000 Centaur at Indiana Grand in his first start since March.

“I thought he really didn’t care for the turf,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “Nor did he get a very good trip.”

Jamie Theriot is in to ride Louies Flower, who could track Saturday. “I think he will be forwardly placed,” said Calhoun.