Prelude a possibility for Ide Be Cool

Ide Be Cool, who was named the 2013 Louisiana-bred horse of the year on Saturday, is a long-term prospect for the $100,000 Prelude at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 2, said his owner and trainer, Ray Dunn.

Ide Be Cool, who is undefeated in six starts, is the star of a 32-horse stable Dunn has at the Bossier City, La., track. Ide Be Cool last raced on March 1, and won the $100,000 Pelican, a 7 1/2-furlong race run around two turns at Delta Downs.

“He’s doing great,” Dunn said. “There’s nothing for him at Louisiana Downs right at the present. We hope to get a race for him next month, go to the Prelude and if we do good there, then run in the Super Derby.”

The Prelude, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, offers its winner a fees-paid berth into the Grade 2, $400,000 Super Derby that will be run on Sept. 6.

Ide Be Cool has yet to race outside the Louisiana-bred ranks, but his efforts to date suggest he will be a strong fit against open company. He was a seven-length winner of the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile at Fair Grounds in December, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 92. One start later he moved back to two turns and rolled home by nine lengths in the $125,000 Premier Night Prince in February, for a Beyer of 91.

Dunn said he was thrilled with Ide Be Cool’s horse of the year title bestowed at the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s annual meeting in Opelousas, La.

“It was kind of unreal,” Dunn said. “He was the first 2-year-old to ever get the award.”

Dunn’s stable at Louisiana Downs houses a 2-year-old full brother to Ide Be Cool. His name is Kool Ide and he is owned by Dunn and his assistant, Pedro Valdez.

“He hasn’t started,” Dunn said. “We’ll wait until the six furlong races.”