Nine likely for Super Derby

Golden Yank has joined the lineup for Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs and Mambo Meister has arrived from Miami, making for a field of nine probables for the 1 1/8-mile stakes as of Monday.

Macho Again, the winner of the Grade 2 Jim Dandy in July, remains a go, trainer Dallas Stewart said Monday. Macho Again should start as the favorite under jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Golden Yank is the fourth horse to come out of last month's $100,000 Prelude Breeders' Cup at Louisiana Downs and commit to the Super Derby. Jamie Theriot has the mount for trainer Gary Thomas. Golden Yank is scheduled to ship from his Remington Park base in Oklahoma City to Louisiana Downs on Friday.

Star Production, who won the Prelude, has long been pointed for the Super Derby and will be ridden by Carlos Gonzalez. Numismatist, the runner-up in the Prelude, is a definite for the race and will be ridden by Cliff Berry, trainer Donnie Von Hemel said Monday. King Darius, the fourth-place finisher from the Prelude, is a go for the Super Derby and will be ridden by John Jacinto, said his trainer, Andrew Ali. King Darius is scheduled to arrive from his Retama Park base Wednesday.

Mambo Meister hit the Louisiana Downs backstretch just before 5 a.m. Central on Monday, trainer Phil Gleaves said. The horse vanned in from Calder, along with the Gleaves-trained Alpha Charmer, who will start on the undercard in the $100,000 River Cities.

"They're both put away in the stakes barn," Gleaves said Monday.

Gleaves said Patrick Valenzuela has the mount on Mambo Meister.

Macho Again and Real Appeal were both scheduled to fly in from Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday. Forest Command, based in Lexington, will van in this week, said his trainer, John Ward. Robby Albarado has the mount on Forest Command, while Gerard Melancon will be aboard Real Appeal, said his trainer, Tom Amoss.

The Super Derby field is also expected to include Stungbythestorm, a Steve Asmussen trainee who was third in an allowance at Presque Isle Downs in his last start on Aug. 23. My Pal Charlie is a possibility for the Super Derby, trainer Al Stall Jr. said Monday.

Smooth Air, the Grade 2 Ohio Derby winner who had been considered for the race, will pass and instead will point for the $100,000 Needles for 3-year-olds on turf at his Calder base Sept. 27, said his trainer, Bennie Stutts Jr. It will be the turf debut for Smooth Air.

"We worked him this morning on the grass and he worked fine," said Stutts.

The Super Derby is the richest of six stakes worth a cumulative $1.2 million at Louisiana Downs on Saturday. The $150,000 Sunday Silence, for 2-year-olds on turf, is expected to be led by Night Action, winner of the $200,000 Cradle Stakes at River Downs. Brownie Points, who defeated male rivals in the $150,000 DeBartolo Breeders' Cup at Remington, will return to racing against fillies and mares for the River Cities, said Von Hemel.

Smokeyjonessutton is set to run in the $150,000 Tiznow Handicap, which is a Win and You're In race for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Stewart said Desormeaux would ride Smokeyjonessutton. The $200,000 Unbridled for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on turf is expected to draw California shipper Knockout Artist and the promising Steve's Double.

The forecast for Saturday is a high of 80 degrees with a 30 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms, according to Weather.com. The Super Derby will be part of a $100,000 guaranteed pick four. All of the stakes will be broadcast on TVG.