Vicar's in Trouble has top credentials in Super Derby
BOSSIER CITY, La. – The 3-year-olds who have landed at Louisiana Downs for the Grade 2, $400,000 Super Derby on Saturday are all at different stages of their careers.
Vicar’s in Trouble and East Hall are seasoned runners who spent time on the Kentucky Derby trail, with Vicar’s in Trouble advancing to the May classic. Jessica’s Star has blossomed over the summer, reaching a high at the end of June, when he won the Grade 3 Iowa Derby. The developing Victory Nor Defeat and Announcement will be testing graded competition for the first time, as will seven-time winner Ide Be Cool.
The Super Derby is one of seven stakes worth a cumulative $900,000 on Saturday. The 1 1/8-mile race drew 11 and will serve as the final leg of an all-stakes pick four that has a guaranteed pool of $100,000. The series starts with the eighth race, the Happy Ticket. There will be an early first post of noon Central.
Vicar’s in Trouble was freshened after a troubled 19th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, and upon returning to action, he ran third in both the Iowa Derby and the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby. The Super Derby is part of a fall schedule mapped out for the Lecomte Stakes and Louisiana Derby winner, who races for Ken and Sarah Ramsey and is trained by Mike Maker.
“The timing of the race is good,” Maker said. “It’s a month from the West Virginia Derby, and there’s another month to the Indiana Derby.”
Trainer Bill Kaplan said the timing and distance were reasons to ship recent $300,000 Ohio Derby winner East Hall from Florida for the Super Derby.
“It’s the next logical spot for him,” he said. “And he needs the extra distance, the mile and an eighth. The longer, the better. He’s a true distance horse.”
Super Derby (Race 11)
KEY CONTENDERS
Vicar’s in Trouble (Last 3 Beyers: 98-84-40)
He’s the lone horse in the field proven at the Grade 2 level – in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds – and proven at the
1 1/8-mile distance of the Super Derby.
He’s in from Kentucky, and while he will be making his first local start, Vicar’s in Trouble has been an effective shipper, equaling his best Beyer Speed Figure in the West Virginia Derby.
“He’s got a great mind, a great way about him,” Maker said. “He’s got a lot of attributes. Talent is his best one.”
Vicar’s in Trouble will break from post 4 under Rosie Napravnik.
“He’s going to be forwardly placed, so I’m pleased with the [draw],” Maker said.
East Hall (Last 3 Beyers: 84-75-87)
He will break from post 10, one start after winning the 1 1/16-mile Ohio Derby from gate 11.
“We had the outside post in the Ohio Derby,” Kaplan said, “and he had a problem in the first turn and overcame it. He was hung wide. He had a terrific last quarter, caught Jessica’s Star in the last jump or two.”
Juan Leyva, who was the regular rider of the Kaplan-trained champion Musical Romance, has the mount on East Hall, who could get a stalking trip. “I’ll leave it up to Leyva,” said Kaplan.
Ide Be Cool (Last 3 Beyers: 66-92-75)
He’s the reigning Louisiana-bred Horse of the Year, with his Louisiana-bred peers in the Super Derby being Vicar’s in Trouble, Louisiana Flyboy, and Gold Appointment. Ide Be Cool will be making his first start at 1 1/8 miles.
“I don’t think he’ll have any problem with that,” said trainer Ray Dunn. “If we run our best race and don’t get into any trouble, I think we’ll be right there at the end.”