Tiznow Stakes added to Super Derby card

Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., has increased to six the number of stakes that it will offer the day of the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby in the most significant change to its 42-race, $3.8 million stakes schedule.

Louisiana Downs will open on May 17, with the 85-date meet to run through Oct. 18.

The Super Derby will be one of a half-dozen stakes worth a cumulative $1.2 million on the Sept. 20 card. Last year, the 1 1/8-mile Super Derby was supported by four other stakes races, all on turf, and all are back this year. Also this year, the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on dirt, has been added to the lineup.

"The Tiznow is intended to be a prep for the new Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile," said Mark Midland, vice president racing of racing operations for Louisiana Downs.

Louisiana Downs's prep races for the Super Derby program will be run on Aug. 16. The annual Super Derby Prelude Day features four stakes worth a cumulative $325,000. That program is led by the $100,000 Prelude Breeders' Cup for 3-year-olds at a 1 1/16 miles. The race is the final local prep for the Super Derby.

The meet's opening day card offers a six-stakes program, all races for Louisiana-breds. Each stakes is worth $50,000 and they should produce starters for the annual Louisiana Downs Champions Day program on Aug. 2. That card will offers eight stakes for Louisiana-bred Thoroughbreds worth a cumulative $750,000.

In all, there are eight multi-stakes race days scheduled during the 2008 meet. Purses are expected to average between $190,000 and $195,000 a day, Midland said.