Lone Sailor tops field for Super Derby

Lone Sailor will be back in Louisiana on Sunday to contest the Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby. He was one of nine horses entered in the Louisiana Downs fixture when entries were taken Monday.

Lone Sailor last raced in Louisiana in March, finishing second by a neck in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

The Super Derby is back on dirt after a one-year experiment on turf in 2017. It will be run at 1 1/16 miles and has been carded as the 11th race on a 13-race program. First post for the card, which will feature six other stakes – all on turf – is noon Central.

Lone Sailor was third in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational in his most recent start July 29. He is based at Churchill Downs, where he worked five-eighths in 1:02 on Friday. James Graham, who was aboard in the Louisiana Derby, has the mount in the Super Derby for G M B Racing and trainer Tom Amoss.

Also in the Super Derby field are High North, the winner of the Iowa Derby, to be ridden by Florent Geroux; Lionite, the winner of the Prairie Meadows Mile, to be ridden by David Cabrera; and Autumn Warrior, undefeated winner of the $60,000 Prelude at Louisiana Downs, who gets the services of Colby Hernandez; G’s Turn, the runner-up in the Prelude, to be ridden by Tommy Pompell; Limation, an Ellis Park allowance winner, to be ridden by Diego Saenz; McFeely, who gets the services of Ashley Broussard; Bode’s Maker, who will be ridden by Joel Dominguez; and Charlie’s Schiller, who will partner with Aubrie Green.

“We’re happy with the numbers, happy with the horses shipping in, and the undercard came up fantastic,” said David Heitzmann, director of racing and racing secretary for Louisiana Downs. “We look to have a real good day Sunday.”