NOMINATIONS CLOSE SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 FOR SUPER DERBY DAY AT HARRAH’S LOUISIANA DOWNS
Bossier City, LA – The marquee day of the 2017 Louisiana Downs Thoroughbred meet is Super Derby Day on Saturday, September 9. Officials announced that post time for the stakes-filled card will be 12:00 pm (Central). Nominations will close on Saturday, August 26 for the following featured events:
$60,000 Unbridled 3 YO & Up 1 1/16 miles (T)
$60,000 River Cities 3 YO & Up F&M 1 1/16 miles (T)
$60,000 Happy Ticket 2 YO Fillies One Mile (T)
$60,000 Sunday Silence 2 YO One Mile (T)
$50,000 Tellike 3 YO & Up F&M 5 Furlongs (T)
$50,000 Need for Speed 3 YO & Up 5 Furlongs (T)
$200,000 SUPER DERBY 3 YO 1 1/16 miles (T)
Super Derby Prelude Winner Mr. Misunderstood on Target for Super Derby
Louisiana Cup Day on August 5 included the running of the $60,000 Super Derby Prelude, a stakes for 3-year-olds on the Franks Turf Course at the distance of a mile and one-sixteenth. The winner was given a berth to next month’s Super Derby, which will be contested on the turf this year. Flurry Racing Stable LLC’s Mr. Misunderstood defeated seven rivals under jockey Chris Rosier to score by 2 ½ lengths.
Trainer Brad Cox reports that the gelded son of Archarcharch, who in undefeated in each of his turf starts, is on target to return to Louisiana Downs for next month’s Super Derby.
“He’s doing really well and had a fantastic breeze on Saturday (August 19),” said Cox.
Cox won three of the nine stakes on Louisiana Cup Day and is finalizing his nomination list for the Super Derby card. In addition to Mr. Misunderstood, Big Changes winner of the $50,000 John Henry and Sister Blues, who was the heavy favorite in the $50,000 Opelousas, are both likely to return to compete in the undercard turf stakes on Super Derby Day.
Cox, 37, is currently ranked tenth in top North American Thoroughbred trainers. He has won 182 races with purses of $5.5 million to date. Currently, the resident of Louisville, Kentucky has runners at Saratoga, Woodbine, Indiana Grand, Ellis Park and Arlington Park.
“Everything is going well for our barn this year,” admitted Cox. “I have a good team and we stay busy. We are always looking forward to the next race day.”
Aubrie Green Moves Forward as a Journeyman
Louisiana Downs jockey Aubrie Green rode her last race as an apprentice on Saturday, August 19. She closed out that chapter of her career with a victory aboard Electric Kiss for Louisiana Downs leading trainer Joey Foster.
“That filly has come a long way,” said Green. “I’ve ridden her three times and was really happy with that win.”
Green, 30, prepared to ride her first race as a journeyman on Monday, August 21. She admitted that her fellow riders did not make it easy for her.
“Everyone was trying to make her worry,” recalled Green. “Some were teasing me; we all get along pretty well.”
But challenges are nothing new for Green, who grew up in a very small town of Riley, Idaho, with virtually no exposure to racing. She is the mother of three children and has made many sacrifices to get to this point. In 2015, she rode two winners from 52 mounts, and only 11 wins followed in 2016. But Green is having an amazing year and already has won 64 races.
“I am not focused on tacking on five extra pounds,” she said. “To me, putting my mounts in the best position to win a race is all I strive to do.”
Her first win in the journeymen ranks came on Monday, again for Foster on Yes Babe, who drew off by over six lengths in a $22,000 maiden special weight sprint.
“I’m ready to take it on,” said Green. “I might lose a little business as some of the trainers I ride for prefer to use an apprentice. But others have said they will stick with me and even have a stakes mount in mind for me.”
When the Louisiana Downs meet wraps next month, Green will weigh her options and is considering the upcoming racing seasons at Delta Downs and Fair Grounds.
Louisiana Downs Trainer and Jockey Standings
Through August 22, last year’s leading trainer Joey Foster continues to hold a commanding lead over his fellow conditioners with 49 wins. H. B. Johnson is second with 22 wins to date and Ronnie Ward is in sole possession of third place with 13 wins. Donald Melancon and Sarah Delany are tied in fourth place; both have saddled 12 winners.
Richard Eramia took a well-deserved vacation last week after riding in both Louisiana Downs and Lone Star Park from May through July. However, he continues to lead his fellow riders with 59 wins. Gerardo Mora won five races last week and is in second place in the standings with 54 trips to the winner’s circle. Aubrie Green has piloted 49 winners and Jose Guerrero follows closely with 42 wins.
Patti Turner and Jamie C. Pastor top the leaderboard in the owner standings with nine wins. Jorge Gomez and Red Rose Racing are tied for second-place with eight victories. Beverly Burress, Dream Walkin Farms, Inc, Maury and Leslie Harrington, Phyllis Hodges, Anthony Faulk and Terrell Jarrett, Jr. each have won seven races in the 2017 Thoroughbred meet.
About Harrah’s Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and was purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December, 2002. With annual Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons, the track is committed to presenting the highest quality racing programs paired with its 150,000 square foot entertainment complex offering casino gambling, dining and plasma screen televisions for sports and simulcast racing.
For further information, please contact:
| Trent McIntosh | Assistant General Manager O 318-752-6980 8000 East Texas Street | Bossier City, LA 71111 www.caesars.com |
