Super Derby field coming together

The field for next Saturday's Grade 2, $750,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs is just starting to take shape, with seven horses considered probable as of Friday morning. Those track officials expect are Regal Ransom, Massone, Blame, Uno Mas, Electric Alphabet, and Red Lead, while trainer Graham Motion said Sumo is likely to join the fray.

"We've got commitments from four horses who have run one-two-three in graded races, and that's a good start," said Trent McIntosh, racing secretary at Louisiana Downs. "If we can get a couple of these other horses to fall into place, that would make for an outstanding field for this race."

Louisiana Downs boosted the purse of the Super Derby from $500,000 for this year's running. It will again be held over 1 1/8 miles, and it will anchor a card of six stakes worth more than $1.2 million. There will be a $100,000 guaranteed all-stakes pick four next Saturday in a sequence that will include the Super Derby. The races will be drawn Wednesday.

McIntosh said a flight bringing horses from New York and Kentucky is due in Tuesday. Horses from California are scheduled to fly in Wednesday. He said there will be a special first post of noon on Super Derby Day, with the race scheduled to be broadcast on TVG and HRTV.

The long-range forecast for next Saturday is sunny skies and a high of 81 degrees, according to weather.com.

Motion said Friday morning that Sumo is to work this weekend at Fair Hill in Maryland, and if all goes to satisfaction, he will be on the plane from New York. Jeremy Rose, who was aboard Sumo last out when he won the $70,000 Pleasant Colony at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga, would have the mount.

Regal Ransom, winner of the Grade 2 UAE Derby last March who has not raced since finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby, is expected to work this weekend in New York in preparation for the Super Derby. Massone invades from Southern California off an $80,000 optional claiming win at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar for trainer Ron McAnally.

Blame, trained by Al Stall, won the $79,000 Curlin at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga in his last start. Uno Mas, Electric Alphabet, and Red Lead finished first, second, and third in the local Super Derby prep, the $100,000 Prelude Stakes.

Yorktown looking at Unbridled

Yorktown, who in his last start won an optional claiming allowance at Monmouth Park, is a candidate for the $75,000 Unbridled on the Super Derby undercard, Motion said. To be run at 1 1/16 miles on turf, the race is for 3-year-olds and up. Yorktown, who began his career in his native France, earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure for his win at Monmouth. Rose would have the call, Motion said.

Other stakes making up the Super Derby Day card are the $150,000 Sunday Silence for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf; the $100,000 Happy Ticket for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf; the $75,000 River Cities for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf; and the $50,000 Temperence Hill for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

Charley B Gold seeks win No. 15

Charley B Gold, who has been one of this region's most consistent turf sprinters, will be after career win No. 15 on Sunday when she starts in the sixth race. A $12,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares, it will be run at about five furlongs on turf. Charley B Gold was sixth at this level last out in her first start since June, and has reason to move forward Sunday. John Jacinto has the mount for trainer John Locke.

Also on the card, The Q Club will add blinkers in the eighth race, a $20,000 optional claiming sprint with second-level allowance conditions. The race is restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. The Q Club is trained by Keith Bourgeois.

* Jockey Shane Sellers moved his tack to Louisiana Downs with the Thursday card, and from three mounts on the program won the sixth race with Belfast.