String King prevails in final charge to win Unbridled

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Jockey Richard Eramia swept both turf stakes for older horses on the Super Derby undercard Saturday at Louisiana Downs, where he guided String King to his 18th career victory in the $75,000 Unbridled and Haunted Heroine to a length win in the $75,000 River Cities.

Eramia, who is the meet’s leading rider, also won the $75,000 Happy Ticket aboard Saritta to account for three of the seven stakes run on the richest card of the season at Louisiana Downs.

String King ($3) settled off the pace set by Warren’s Rebel and Well’s Gold, who took the field through fractions of 23.50 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.89 for the half-mile. String King began to advance on the final turn, was part of a cavalry charge to the wire, and prevailed by a half-length over Well’s Gold. It was another neck back in third to Chongo.

String King covered 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in a quick 1:40.77. It was his 13th career stakes win, and the $45,000 he earned pushed his career bankroll to $980,552.

Charlie Smith, who bred, owns, and trains String King, said the horse’s next major objective would be the Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds.

Haunted Heroine held off a surging Meeting Waters for a length win over that one in the River Cities. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Welcome Aboard.

Haunted Heroine ($7) settled in second early in the River Cities, tracking pacesetter Pretty Suspect through an opening quarter in 24.13 and a half-mile in 49.10. Haunted Heroine overtook the leader at the top of the stretch before covering the distance in 1:42.08.

Bret Calhoun trains Haunted Heroine for Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch.