The Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby Headlines the Saturday, September 7th Card
Bossier City, LA – While the Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby is the richest race of the Saturday, September 7 card at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, six excellent undercard features will also be contested on the 13-race program. The marquee day of the 2019 Louisiana Downs Thoroughbred meet will get underway at a special post time of 12:00 pm(Central).
As announced in Monday’s press release, Knicks Go owned by KRA Stud Farms, has been installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite in the Super Derby. The colt by Paynter out of the Outflanker mare Kosmo’s Buddy broke his maiden last July at Ellis Park and went on to a highly successful 2-year-old season for trainer Ben Colebrook. He attracted considerable attention last October when he pulled a huge upset in the Grade 1, Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Dismissed by the betting public, he topped a full field of juveniles in gate-to-wire fashion at odds of 70-1. He followed that with a game runner-up finish in the Grade 1, Sentient Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. The gray colt enters the Super Derby field with a career bankroll of $710,925 banked in 11 lifetime starts. He will face nine rivals, including Super Derby Prelude winner Walpole Racing LLC’s Leader of Men in the 40th running of the Super Derby, which will run as the eleventh race, with an approximate post time of 5:07 pm (Central).
Six additional stakes have drawn full and competitive fields on Saturday’s card.
Brad Cox Trainees Top Excellent Field in the $60,000 Frank L. Brothers Stakes
One of the six turf stakes on the Super Derby card was renamed this year to honor New Orleans native Frank L. Brothers. “Frankie,” as he is known in the racing industry, began his highly successful career as a Thoroughbred trainer in Louisiana, winning nine leading trainer titles at Louisiana Downs and winning the 1998 Super Derby with Arch. He was inducted into the inaugural Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Racing Hall of Fame on July 13.
The mile and one-sixteenth Frank L. Brothers attracted an overflow field of turf specialists including Big Changes, who won the 2018 edition of the $60,000 Unbridled. The Florida-bred son of Shipman owned by Steve Landers Racing, LLC, is the highest earner with $568,854 banked in 28 starts. Trained by Brad Cox, Big Changes has won five stakes with his last victory coming last January at Gulfstream Park in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes. Jockey Colby Hernandez, who recently won the riding title at Evangeline Downs, has the call and will break from the far outside post.
Cox is also shipping in Kurilov (CHI), a 6-year-old son of Lookin at Lucky, who will make his return off a one-year layoff. He ran in the 2018 Woodward, a Grade 1 stakes at Saratoga and will break from the rail under jockey Diego Saenz.
The top two finishers in last month’s $50,000 Louisiana Turf Cup Classic will return to action. Theoryintopractice, owned by Courtney Barousse and trained by Steve Asmussen, came off the pace to edge In the Navy by a neck. Richard Eramia has the return call aboard the son of Into Mischief. Kendel D. Standlee’s In the Navy, trained by Scott Gelner, is a 5-year-old sired by Midshipman who has hit the board in 10 of his 14 turf starts. Floyd Wethey, Jr. will ride.
The Frank L. Brothers will run as the tenth race on Saturday’s program.
Eleven Talented Two-Year Fillies Assembled in the $60,000 Happy Ticket
The 33rd running of the $60,000 Happy Ticket, drew a field of 11 fillies at the distance of seven and one-half furlongs on the Franks Turf Course. Just seven ran in last year’s edition of the race, but a very nice group of 11 fillies will compete in Saturday’s sixth race.
Steve Landers Racing LLC’s Taylor’s Josie exits three starts in Kentucky and will make her turf debut for trainer Brad Cox. Sired by Race Day, she broke her maiden at Churchill Downs on June 27 and will be ridden by Diego Saenz at odds of 3-1.
Breaking from the far outside post will be Tizsfrandella who is undefeated in two starts for owner/ trainer Justin Jeansonne. The daughter of Tizway has made two starts on the turf, breaking her maiden at Evangeline Downs on June 13 and capturing the $75,000 La Senorita at Retama Park on August 14. Jockey Thomas Pompell rode the bay filly in both events and has the return call.
“There looks to be quite a bit of speed in the race,” said Jeansonne, who welcomed the birth of his daughter on August 16. “Tommy has done a great job of getting this filly to relax, so hopefully he can take back and make a late run. She’s bred to go two turns; it’s been a great run so far.”
Trainer Ben Colebrook will also ship in Envied, a filly by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who broke her maiden at Ellis Park on July 5. Colby Hernandez will guide her in her second start and stakes debut. Cedar Hall, who ran second in the La Senorita, makes her first start at Louisiana Downs for trainer Danny Pish. This will be the third stakes appearance by the daughter of Bayern, who will be ridden by Lane Luzzi.
Deviant Seeks His Second Turf Stakes Win in the $60,000 Sunday Silence
The eighth race of the afternoon is the $60,000 Sunday Silence with ten juveniles competing seven and one-half furlongs on the Franks Turf Course. This is the 15th edition of the race named in honor of the prolific champion who won the 1989 Super Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and was inducted into the Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Racing Hall of Fame this year.
Deviant, owned by Red Lane Thoroughbreds LLC, will be aiming for his second consecutive turf stakes victory. The colt by Daredevil made three main track starts in Kentucky before making his turf debut in the $75,000 El Joven at Retama Park. It was a winning effort for the juvenile, who drew off by a margin of 7 ¾ lengths under Lane Luzzi. The son of veteran New York rider Mike Luzzi, will ride the 5-2 morning line favorite.
Deviant will face several 2-year-olds who recently broke their maiden, including Violator from the barn of Steve Asmussen. The Ontario-bred son of Violence won his second career start at Ellis Park for Winchell Thoroughbredsand Willis Horton Racing and will be ridden by Richard Eramia. Louisiana-bred Outofmybind broke his maiden here on July 30 for owner Richard Ringo. Jockey Joel Dominguez rode the son of Bind to a seven-length win and will remain in the irons for trainer James Hodges.
Asmussen also sends in Valiant Defender, who ran second to Deviant in the El Joven. The Kentucky-bred son of Stay Thirsty will make his third career start for H.V.Farms, Ltd with rider C. J. McMahon in the saddle.
Is Too Goes for Her Third Stakes in a Row in the $60,000 River Cities
A full field of fillies and mares will compete in the 33rd running of the $60,000 River Cities at the distance of a mile and one-sixteenth on the turf.
Is Too, a 4-year-old daughter of Midshipman, owned by Barrone Farms LLC, returns to the Franks Turf Course in pursuit of her third consecutive stakes. She was an impressive winner here last month in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff. Trained by for trainer Edward Johnston, Is Too has won six of her 15 career starts and is especially suited to the turf with three victories in four starts. She will reunite with regular pilot Colby Hernandez.
Also certain to attract plenty of attention is Remember Daisy, who captured the $100,000 Louisiana Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds last December before heading to Canterbury Park and most recently, Arlington Park in Chicago. She ran sixth in the Grade 1, Beverly D for owner Al and Bill Ulwelling. Trainer Gary Scherer has given the call to jockey Tim Thornton. Also shipping in from Arlington Park is Ruffina, a 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry who is trained by Brad Cox. Diego Saenz will ride the bay filly, who has won three of her six turf starts. She will make her Louisiana Downs debut in the River Cities.
The River Cities is carded as the ninth race of the Super Derby program.
Nine Louisiana-Bred Fillies Take to the Turf in the $60,000 Elge Rasberry
The 24th running of the $60,000 Elge Rasberry drew a field of nine Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies. Snowball,owned by Tin Roof Farms LLC has been installed as the 5-2 choice in the one-mile turf feature.
The daughter of Apriority won the $75,000 Soiree on Louisiana Legends Night at Evangeline Downs on May 25. Trained by Sam Breaux, the gray filly will be ridden by Diego Saenz and will break from post position seven. She has hit the board in seven of her 12 starts with earnings of $114,820 to date.
Randall Hargrave’s Scootin Bayou has faired well this season at Louisiana Downs, winning two turf races in front-running fashion under jockey Jose Guerrero. The filly by Guilt Trip will make her stakes debut for trainer Kenneth L. Hargrave. Other notable entrants include Net a Bear, runner-up in the Louisiana Legends Soiree for trainer Allen Landry and Irish Hustle, who exits a six-length main track allowance score on August 10 at Evangeline Downs. She is trained by Bret Calhoun, who has named Robby Albarardo to ride the daughter of Data Link.
Luck of the Draw Leads the Field in the $60,000 A. L. (Red) Erwin
An overflow field of Louisiana-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings will take to the Franks Turf
Course in the $60,000 A. L. (Red) Erwin. Luck of the Draw will make his Louisiana Downs
debut for owner Ten Strike Racing and trainer Matt Shirer. The gelded son of Lookin at Lucky
broke his maiden last December at Fair Grounds and competed in two turf races at Arlington Park
most recently. Jockey Colby Hernandez will pilot the 7-2 morning line choice.
Another promising 3-year-old is Star Fitzstall, a son of Star Guitar, bred and owned by Brittlyn Stable, Inc. He has won two of his five starts, including back-to-back main track events at Delaware Park for conditioner Jose Camejo. Rider Marcelino Pedroza has the call on Star Fitzstall, who makes his turf debut on Saturday.
Another son of Star Guitar, Make Me Smile, broke his maiden on the turf on July 18 at Evangeline Downs and followed that up with an allowance win one month later. Trainer Keith Bourgeois has given the call to Tim Thornton. Tigertail Ranch’s homebred Hampton Roads will aim for his third career win under jockey Diego Saenz. The son of Lone Star Special is conditioned by Victor Arceneaux and ran fourth in a turf allowance here on July 6.
Super Derby Festivities Set for Saturday, September 7
Several promotions and special events are planned for Super Derby 40 so that both racing fans and families will have an enjoyable afternoon at the racetrack.
Watch and wager on the Super Derby Card in the air-conditioned comfort of the Harrah’s Club. An All You Can Eat Buffet offering for $39.99 per person will be available, beginning at 11:00 am. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made by calling 318-752-6367. An upscale buffet, thee Super Derby 40 in the Sky, will also be available for $49.99 per person. Contact Jennifer Sokol at (318) 741-2512 as reservations are required.
At 10:30 am, a Jockey Meet and Greet and Autograph Signing will take place in the Harrah’s Louisiana Downs main entrance area. A photo of the riders will be available for $5.00 with the proceeds to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).
Louisiana Downs track announcer John McGary and regional racing publicist Martha Claussen will team up for a pre-race handicapping preview at 11:00 am in the Inside Rail, located on the first floor of the grandstand. They will offer detailed analysis of the Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby as well as their selections for each of the races on the Super Derby card.
Rachel McLaughlin, racing production manager and on-air talent at Indiana Grand, also one of the Caesars Entertainment horse racing properties, will make an appearance at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs on Saturday, September 7 for Super Derby 40. She will conduct select paddock previews and post-race stakes interviews and offer selections for the entire card.
Family activities will get underway at 11:00 am, a Children’s Area will open on the Racing Apron. Face Painting is available for an additional charge. Children can join in the fun with the Super Derby Stilt Walkers and Hula Hoop Stars! Food Trucks from across the region will be serving up great local bites for purchase.
Also at 12:00 pm, registration begins for the Super Derby Ladies Hat Contest. Hats will be judged in three categories: Spirit of Louisiana, Classic and Most Original. The winners will receive $100 cash.
The Food Truck Face-Off will take place after the 3rd race. Competitors will have five minutes to scarf down some of the yummiest foods available for purchase on the Racing Apron. Seven popular local celebrities and three participants from the crowd will compete to win, not only bragging rights, but $250 in cash.
Super Derby 40 $5 Free Bet
Racing fans can swipe their Caesars Rewards card at the racing kiosks for a $5.00 Free Bet that can be redeemed on Saturday, September 14, 2019.
After the 6th Race Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Super Derby 40 Opening Ceremony will include a Proclamation by Bossier City Mayor Lorenz Walker, posting of the colors by the Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines and The National Anthem performed by Billie Joe, Real Country Reality Singing Competition artist.
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.
