Underpressure will get time off to allow bruised feet to heal

The Louisiana Premier Day card was missing a key player Saturday at Delta Downs in Underpressure, who twice has won the Championship and who is a past winner of the Prince Stakes. Underpressure was intended for the $150,000 Championship this year after running second in both the Gold Cup in October at Delta and the track’s allowance prep on Nov. 19. But bruised feet knocked him out of the race, trainer Chris Richard said Monday.

“We made the decision to stop on him completely, give him some R & R,” Richard said. “We’ll give him off part of the summer. We’re going to bring him back for the fall.”

Richard said the plan now is to have Underpressure ready for the next meet at Delta. The horse will have some turnout days at an area farm each week for the remainder of the current meet, but will remain under Richard’s Delta shed row.

“He likes the track more than he likes the farm, which is why he’ll end up being a really good stable pony” one day, Richard said.

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“He’s living the life of Riley right now.”

Underpressure races for Richard’s wife, Mallory Richard. The stable will head to Canterbury after the season wraps up at Delta.

◗ Evangeline Downs announced its Louisiana Legends Night of stakes will be June 4. The track’s 84-date meet runs from April 6 to Aug. 27. Stall applications are due Feb. 15.