Louisiana Downs: Departing stretches legs on Super Derby morning

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Super Derby favorite Departing was out for some light exercise before dawn Saturday morning at Louisiana Downs. He is expected to start as the odds-on choice in the mile and an eighth race which has an approximate post time of 5:15 p.m. Central.

Departing, the winner of last month’s Grade 2 West Virginia Derby, came onto the track at 6:10 a.m., accompanied by a pony. The horses stood for a brief while before proceeding to jog a mile. Departing came off the track around 6:20.

The session was simply to stretch Departing’s legs before the long day ahead, said Stall, who trains the horse for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider.

“It was to get out of the stall,” he said. “The race isn’t until almost 12 hours.”

It was about 70 degrees and clear early Saturday morning at Louisiana Downs. The forecast for this afternoon is mostly sunny skies and a high of 98 degrees, according to weather.com.

Louisiana Downs has a special first post of 12 p.m. Central. There is a $100,000 guaranteed all-stakes pick four on races 8-11. The bet ends with the Super Derby.

The Super Derby, a Grade 2, $500,000 race and the meet highlight at Louisiana Downs, is expected to be broadcast on both HRTV and TVG.