Texas Chrome, Sharp Azteca likely to get rematch in Super Derby

Texas Chrome and Sharp Azteca, who finished a half-length apart when first and second last Saturday in the $100,000 Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs, headed out in different directions after the race but are likely to return to town for the Grade 3, $400,000 Super Derby on Sept. 10.

Texas Chrome, who on Monday was settled in at Remington Park, earned a fees-paid berth in the Super Derby by winning the Prelude, his fifth stakes victory. He earned a career-high 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He ran a big race,” said J.R. Caldwell, who trains Texas Chrome for Keene Thoroughbreds. “He handled the trip well, handled Louisiana Downs well, and it looks like we’re good for the Super Derby.”

C.J. McMahon was aboard for the Prelude and has the mount for the Super Derby, said Caldwell.

Caldwell said Texas Chrome will complete the bulk of his Super Derby preparations at Remington. The trainer’s stable is based at the Oklahoma City track that opens Friday. Texas Chrome came into the Prelude off a runner-up finish to American Freedom in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby.

Sharp Azteca was en route to Monmouth Park on Monday, and there is a good chance that the horse will return for the Super Derby, said Jorge Navarro, who trains Sharp Azteca for Gelfenstein Farm.

“The horse came back in great condition,” Navarro said Monday. “The next day, he was coming out of his skin. He’s on his way back to Monmouth. We’re thinking Super Derby.”

Sharp Azteca was making his two-turn debut in the Prelude and set the pace to the later stages. He was stretching out off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on June 11 at Belmont Park. In May, the horse won the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs.