Texas Chrome earns Super Derby berth with Prelude win
Texas Chrome earned a fees-paid berth into next month’s Super Derby on Saturday, when he fought for a half-length win over Sharp Azteca in the $100,000 Prelude at Louisiana Downs. It was another 6 3/4 lengths back in third to Mending Fences.
The Prelude was one of seven stakes on the card, with the other six making up the annual Louisiana Cup. Texas Chrome earned $60,000 for his win, as well as a free ride into the Grade 3, $400,000 Super Derby on Sept. 10. In the other major stakes on the card Saturday, millionaire Sunbean ($16.40) was a length winner of the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic.
Texas Chrome ($8.20) sat just off the pace set by Sharp Azteca, the 2-5 favorite who took the field through an opening quarter in 25.15 seconds, a half-mile in 48.86 and six furlongs in 1:12.98. Texas Chrome drew even with the leader at that point, and the pair went at it in the stretch, with Texas Chrome working his way past Sharp Azteca. The winner covered 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.83.
C.J. McMahon was aboard Texas Chrome for trainer J.R. Caldwell.
Texas Chrome is a son of Grasshopper, who races for Keene Thoroughbreds. He won the fifth stakes race of his career in the Prelude. Texas Chrome has now won 6 of 11 starts and has earned $362,462.
Texas Chrome went into the Prelude off a runner-up finish to American Freedom in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. Following the start, American Freedom ran second in the Haskell Invitational. Texas Chrome is based at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.