Uno Mas Bourbon's Super Derby win gives Wilkes one of his own

Uno Mas Bourbon, who won the $250,000 Super Derby last Saturday at Louisiana Downs, was trainer Ian Wilkes’s first starter at the Bossier City, La., track – but not his first experience with the meet’s most prestigious race.

“The last time I was there was with Unbridled and Home At Last with Carl Nafzger,” Wilkes said of his time as an exercise rider and later assistant to Nafzger.

Home At Last won the 1990 running of the Super Derby over stablemate Unbridled. At the time, the race was worth $1 million. It’s in a rebuilding stage now, after new ownership purchased Louisiana Downs and reinstated the race in 2023.

Uno Mas Bourbon was a 1 1/4-length winner in his stakes debut, and for the effort earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86. The horse came into the race off a close third-place finish in a first-level allowance July 21 at Ellis Park.

“His last race at Ellis I thought was very good,” Wilkes said. “That was against older horses. I thought it was a very tough race and I thought he ran a real game race. It was very encouraging. I thought he got better. I thought he was improved, and sometimes you’ve got to think outside the box and take a shot.”

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Wilkes said Uno Mas Bourbon has returned to the Skylight Training Center in Kentucky.

“He arrived back fine and he came out of it good,” Wilkes said. “We’ll look at the options. We’ll get back to the track and get him a spot.”

Uno Mas Bourbon is a son of Macho Uno who races for Bourbon Lane Stables and Six Column Stable. Bourbon Lane Stables won the Super Derby in 2012 as a co-owner of Bourbon Courage.

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