Super Derby draws solid group of shippers

Horses who last raced in Illinois, Kentucky, New York, and Virginia are coming together for the $250,000 Super Derby on Saturday at Louisiana Downs.

The meet’s richest race drew a field of 11 and will be showcased on a nine-race card that begins at 3:05 p.m. Central.

“I’m proud of the card we have, an excellent nine races, and the Super Derby improved from last year,” said Matt Crawford, director of racing for Louisiana Downs. “We’re proud of the field size and the quality.”

Louisiana Downs brought the Super Derby back last year after a three-year hiatus during which the track changed hands. It drew a field of seven for the race in 2023 and will again be run at 1 1/8 miles.

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The field for this year’s renewal from the rail with riders and morning-line odds provided by Crawford is: Tdzshininluckystar, Jorge Carreno (8-1); Django, Emmanuel Esquivel (9-2); Real Men Violin, Colby Hernandez (3-1); Uno Mas Bourbon, Francisco Arrieta (10-1); Cornishman, Timothy Thornton (6-1); Cali Dreamin, Alexander Castillo (20-1); Carolo Rapido, Evin Roman (6-1); Regalo, Ben Curtis (7-2); Awesome Ruta, Tyler Conner (5-1); Runnin Munnin, Jose Guerrero (20-1); and The Donegal Clan, C.J. McMahon (12-1).

Regalo, winner of the Petramalo Mile last out at Colonial Downs, was due to arrive at Louisiana Downs on Sunday for trainer Brittany Russell, Crawford said. Curtis is coming off winning the riding title at the Virginia track that closed its meet Saturday.

Crawford said shippers for trainers Brad Cox (Cornishman), Mike Maker (Carolo Rapido), Kenny McPeek (Django and Real Men Violin), and Ian Wilkes (Uno Mas Bourbon) are mostly scheduled to arrive Thursday and Friday.

Carolo Rapido, who is coming off an allowance win at Ellis Park, is a son of Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia.

Django last raced at Saratoga, and was fourth in the Curlin. He’s a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Finley’sluckycharm. Real Men Violin was third last out in the St. Louis Derby in Illinois.

The Louisiana-based stakes winners in the field are Tdzshininluckystar and The Donegal Clan.

The Super Derby is slated as the seventh race, with a scheduled post of 5:48 p.m.

There is one other stakes on the card, the $50,000 Alabama. The program also includes three maiden special weight offerings and an allowance. In all, 85 horses were entered for an average of 9.4 horses per race Saturday.

“It’s our biggest card of the meet,” Crawford said.

The ontrack festivities Saturday will include a jockey autograph session benefiting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, track ambassador Roxanne Tanner said. It begins at 1:30 p.m. There also will be a booth promoting Thoroughbred aftercare as well as a Family Fun Zone area with activities for all, including food trucks and stilts walkers.

Following the third race, two-time Grammy Award winner Linda Davis will sing the National Anthem in a ceremony during which the local mayor will read a proclamation, track official Andrea Butler said.

There is no set time for the gates to open as a casino also operates at Louisiana Downs.

◗ Cajun Blast is the speed from the rail in the featured seventh race Wednesday at Louisiana Downs. He goes in a first-level allowance at five furlongs on the grass that carries an claiming option of $15,000. First post is 4:05 p.m. Central.

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