Mo Tom completes preparations for Super Derby
Mo Tom is a go for the Grade 3, $400,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Saturday.
Mo Tom breezed Monday at Churchill Downs and was scheduled to fly to Shreveport, La., on Tuesday, according to trainer Tom Amoss. Mo Tom, the winner of the Ohio Derby, worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds.
“We’re definitely coming,” Amoss said after training hours Monday. “He got his last breeze in. We’ll get him there and look forward to running on Saturday.”
Amoss said Joe Bravo has the mount on Mo Tom, who races for G M B Racing.
Louisiana Downs officials had a working list of eight to nine horses for the Super Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race that will be drawn Wednesday. Officials also anticipate getting Dalmore, the winner of the Grade 3 Affirmed at Santa Anita; Whateverybodywants, the runner-up in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer; four from the local prep, the Prelude, including winner Texas Chrome; and a starter from the barn of trainer Dallas Stewart.
Texas Chrome worked a bullet half-mile in 47.60 seconds on Friday at Remington Park. He is to be ridden by C.J. McMahon, according to trainer J.R. Caldwell.
Whateverybodywants worked a half-mile in 47 seconds on Saturday at Keeneland. Jose Valdivia Jr. has the mount, said trainer Kellyn Gorder.
A flight with stakes horses from California was expected to arrive Wednesday.
The Super Derby will anchor a card of five stakes. The races include a pair of $75,000, one-mile turf stakes for 2-year-olds, the Sunday Silence and Happy Ticket, and the $75,000 Unbridled, which is expected to draw the millionaire String King.
Louisiana Downs will offer an all-stakes pick four on Saturday with a guaranteed minimum pool of $100,000, according to Trent McIntosh, the track’s director of operations. McIntosh also said Saturday’s card will have an early post of noon Central.
◗ Jockey Patrick Valenzuela won with his first mount since February on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. He picked up a Quarter Horse mount in the first race, Linda Tee Fire ($6), and guided the horse to a 4 1/2-length win for a partnership that included Mark Allen and Leonard Blach, who raced 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Valenzuela had last ridden at Fair Grounds, where he sustained a hand injury.
◗ Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., handled an average of $1,220,284 a night on its live races during the track’s 82-date meet, which closed Aug. 27, according to figures provided by Evangeline. Colby Hernandez won his fourth riding title at the track with 90 wins. Karl Broberg led all trainers with 49 wins, and the meet’s leading owner was Red Rose Racing.