Louisiana Downs: Landeros gets 1,000th win in Unbridled Stakes

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Jockey Chris Landeros got his 1,000th career victory when Major Marvel dug down deep to hold off String King by a neck in the $100,000 Unbridled Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Saturday. It was the fifth straight win for Major Marvel, who is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Mike Maker.

Landeros rode his first career winner Jan. 18, 2006, at Turf Paradise. He shipped into Louisiana Downs from Remington Park to ride Major Marvel and was thrilled that the milestone win came in the Unbridled.

“It’s pretty special for the stakes and the connections, great people who have done so much for our sport,” he said.

Major Marvel ($6.80) tracked Global Power into the stretch, took the lead, then battled with String King late to keep it while covering the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.

“He tested us,” Landeros said of String King. “It was all heart on my horse’s part.”

Major Marvel has won 20 of 50 starts. He earned $60,000 to push his career bankroll to $594,978.

Gantry wins Temperence Hill

Gantry made a sharp comeback Saturday, winning by 4 1/2 lengths in the $50,000 Temperence Hill in his first start since April. The race was one of five undercard stakes supporting the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby.

Gantry ($2.80) had been freshened since running second in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland on April 13. In his return Saturday, he was content to settle in third behind Joe Hollywood and Unitas, who went at it through fractions of 22.60 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.10 for the half-mile.

Gantry cruised up to the leaders near the quarter pole and kicked on through the stretch, leading through five furlongs in 56.93. He went on to finish the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up in 1:09.60. Richard Eramia was aboard for Brittlyn Stable and Ron Faucheux.

“He was easily the best,” Eramia said. “He came back very good after the little break.”

The win was Gantry’s first since he captured the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder in July 2012.

“To get back in the winner’s circle is what we’ve been trying to do for quite some time,” Faucheux said. “He’s run into tough competition.”

Gantry’s campaign last year included the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Faucheux said the horse could make his next start in the Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds.