Louisiana Downs: Hardrock Eleven staying on turf

Hardrock Eleven, who ran in a pair of preps for this year’s Kentucky Derby, will make his second straight turf start Sunday in the eighth race at Louisiana Downs. He is part of a 12-horse field in a first-level allowance to be run at 7 1/2 furlongs. Others set to start include Sweetcarolinamoon, a 3-year-old son of Carolina Sky, a mare who won multiple turf stakes at Louisiana Downs.

Hardrock Eleven has raced twice on turf, finishing second in the $100,000 Appleton Juvenile at Calder last November, then third in a first-level allowance at Louisiana Downs in his most recent start May 25. Earlier this year, Hardrock Eleven was unplaced in both the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds and the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn. Bobby Walker Jr. has the mount for trainer David Banks.

Sweetcarolinamoon won a maiden special weight in his third career start May 27, when he darted home by 2 1/2 lengths at Louisiana Downs. The score came over the same course that his dam won the Old South and River Cities Breeders’ Cup in 2006.