Limation ($54.80) surges to Super Derby win

Jockey Diego Saenz was the star of the Sunday card at Louisiana Downs. Saenz won four of the seven stakes on the program, including the Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby with 26-1 outsider Limation.

It was the first Super Derby win for Saenz, who ranks as one of the winningest riders in Louisiana, and the first for Limation’s trainer, Hall of Fame horseman Steve Asmussen.

The Super Derby was the richest race of the meet. It returned to the main track after a one-year experiment on turf. The card started out with a fast main track. The surface was later downgraded to sloppy after rain, then upgraded to good right before the running of the Super Derby.

The surface shuffle was a non-issue for Limation, who returned $54.80 one start after finishing an uncharacteristic ninth in the $75,000 Ellis Park Derby on Aug. 12. He was content to track Charlie’s Schiller in the Super Derby, cruising along in second as that one set fractions of 24.29 seconds for the opening quarter and 48.13 for the half-mile.

Limation took over through six furlongs in 1:12.55, then increased his advantage through the stretch for a 5 3/4-length win over favorite Lone Sailor. It was another neck back to High North.

Limation’s stretch kick in what was the final stakes on the program was a great feeling, said Saenz, who rode the horse for the first time Sunday.

“It feels like when you push the pedal in your car and you got gas,” he said.

Limation covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.91.

Limation was a maiden special weight winner in May at Churchill Downs, then won a conditioned allowance at Ellis one start before the Ellis Park Derby. He is a son of Alternation and races for Michael Langford.

Limation earned $180,000 for the win, his third from eight starts. He now has career earnings of $272,950.

The remaining order of finish was Lionite, also trained by Asmussen, in fourth, followed by G's Turn, Bode's Maker, McFeely, Autumn Warrior, and Charlie's Schiller.

Saenz’s other stakes wins Sunday at Louisiana Downs came in the Sunday Silence with Ice City Ghost ($42.20), the Elge Rasberry with Yes Gorgeous ($6.40), and the River Cities with Bermuda Star ($8.40). Each race was worth $60,000.

The fifty-cent all-stakes pick four that ended on the Super Derby returned $177.90. The winning numbers were 6-1-4-7.