Special Post Time of 12:00 pm Set for Saturday, September 9
Bossier City, LA – Nominations have closed for Super Derby Day at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, which will take place on Saturday, September 9. The marquee day of the 2017 Louisiana Downs Thoroughbred meet will get underway at a special post time of 12:00 pm (Central).
The Super Derby program will feature seven turf stakes, highlighted by the $200,000 Super Derby, for 3-year-olds going a mile and one-sixteenth on the Franks Turf Course. The Super Derby closed with 34 nominations.
Trainer Brad Cox has nominated five runners for the Super Derby, including Flurry Racing Stable LLC’s Mr. Misunderstood, winner of the $60,000 Super Derby Prelude, here on August 5. That victory gave the gelded son of Archarcharch, who in undefeated in each of his four turf starts, a berth into the Super Derby.
Arklow, owned by Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and Peter Coneway, is also nominated. Sired by Arch, Arklow has bankrolled $246,987 to date with his most prestigious score coming in the Grade 2, $300,000 American Turf at Churchill Downs in May. Cowboy Culture, who has won four of his six turf starts, is also nominated. The son of Quality Road has not run since winning the Grade 3, $100,000 Arlington Classic on May 27.
Several other nationally prominent conditioners are considering shipping in for the Super Derby.
California based Tim Yakteen has nominated George Krikorian’s homebred Big Score. He has tested Grade 1 company twice, beginning with a fifth-place finish in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last November at Santa Anita. Fern Circle Stables’ Senior Investment has been nominated by trainer Kenneth McPeek. The colt by Discreetly Mine competed in both the Grade 1 Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
A trio of turf specialists from Mike Maker also is on the list of nominations. Kenneth L and Sarah K. Ramsey homebreds Gorgeous Kitten and Kitten’s Cat, both sired by Kitten’s Joy are graded stakes placed runners. Maker also trains Skychai Racing LLC’s Benefactor, who made his last start at Saratoga and could ship in for the Super Derby.
Current leading Louisiana Downs trainer Joey Foster has nominated Culp’s Hill and Mizztic Tale, who placed fifth in the Super Derby Prelude.
The draw for Super Derby Day will take place on Saturday, September 2. The featured stakes are:
$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)
$75,000 All Stakes Pick 4 on Super Derby Day
Officials have announced that there will be a $75,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 4 on Saturday, September 9, beginning on race 8. The wager will encompass four stakes, including the $200,000 Super Derby.
“We feel that with seven stakes, including the richest race of our meet, that our fans will enjoy the All Stakes Pick 4,” said Trent McIntosh, Louisiana Downs assistant general manager. “With full fields and a very competitive field of turf specialists in the Super Derby, this wager will be compelling for both our local fans and horseplayers across the country.”
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 |
