Here are the horses that I voted for in the LAD meet champion categories…

Super Derby winner Regal Ransom goes for the Breeders' Cup Classic next

Two Year Old: William’s Kitten – On the Super Derby undercard, the Michael Maker runner competed in the off the turf Sunday Silence Stakes. He was sitting at the back of the pack and unleashed an eye catching move to blow past the field with breathtaking ease. That visually impressive performance carried him to Woodbine for the Grade 3 Grey Stakes, but he ran flat over the Polytrack surface. He is pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

LA Bred and Two Year Old Filly: The Rumor’s True – Trained by low profile conditioner Steven Duke, the daughter of Kafwain tackled open company in the Happy Ticket on the Super Derby undercard, and she was up to the task in a sharp victory over the promising Seasoned.

Three Year Old Filly: Lightlightlight - The Steve Asmussen trainee captured multiple stakes races at Louisiana Downs, including the Louisiana Cup Oaks on Aug 1st.

LA Bred Three Year Old: Takin’ The Bullet - Enjoyed a productive meet on both surfaces. He was 2nd in a turf race in July and 3rd in the Louisiana Cup Derby on Aug 1st. He capped off the meet with a win in the Red Erwin Stakes on Sept 5th.

Category Seven is entered in the Blushing K. D. Stakes at the Fair Grounds on Nov 6th.

Sprinter: Brother Bean – Blistered six furlongs in 1:09.66 on August 1st in the Louisiana Cup Sprint.

Older Mare: Superior Storm – Talented state bred and multiple graded placed miss had to work harder than expected in a game Louisiana Cup Distaff win. Finished 7th in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland in October.

Turf Horse and Older Horse: Mogumbo Cat - Won an optional claiming turf race in May, and he was a sharp winner of the Shishkabob in August. Landed the place on the main in the Unbridled in September.

Turf Mare: Category Seven – Gem of consistency won a pair of optional claimers and placed in the Top Corsage and River Cities. Next up for this one is the Blushing K. D. Stakes at Fair Grounds on Nov 6th.

Older LA bred: Star Guitar – Captured the Dixie Poker Ace at the Fair Grounds on Jan 3rd. Nabbed the off the turf Louisiana Cup Turf Classic at Louisiana Downs on Aug 1st. Came back two weeks later to nab the Evangeline Mile. His most recent start was a victory in the 77th running of the Gold Cup at Delta Downs.

Left to right: Nick Tammaro, Travis Stone, Jarrod Horak, and Pat Cummings during Super Derby Handicapping Seminar at Louisiana Downs

Claimer: Officer Jo Ann – Enjoyed a fantastic meet with five wins and two place finishes in the claiming ranks.

Three Year Old and Horse of the Meet: Regal Ransom – Came back blazing while making his first start since the Kentucky Derby. In the 30th running of the Grade 2 Super Derby, the Godolphin trainee made all the running in a sharp wire job win. Runner-up Blame came back to capture the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland. Regal Ransom goes next in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov 7th.

On Super Derby Day, I was joined by Nick Tammaro, Pat Cummings, and Travis Stone for the Handicapping Seminar. Track Photographer Lou Hodges snapped a pic (photo above), and track announcer Travis Stone added the captions. The dream team had a great time and gave out a few winners along the way.

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Images: Lou Hodges, Stacy Edwards

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Fast track and off the turf. Main started out fair and favored speed as the day wore on.

The Difference (8th race) was my original top for turf, but I downgraded him to my 3rd choice when the race was transferred to the main. He rallied to miss 2nd by a neck, and look for him to return to the sod next time.

I was hot all week long on the analysis front, and I escaped a post Super Derby bounce with three more tops getting the job done on Sunday, including best bet Jami Baby ($10.20).

Large crowd on hand for '09 Super Derby Day.

September 24th Preview

Weather: Thunderstorms (60% chance). High 77.

Thursday’s 9-race card features three grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $3,004. Wet weather is possible once again, and at this rate we will not make it back on the turf before the meet ends on Oct 4th.

Blushing Buddha (6th race) is my best bet. My top three faced each other on Aug 13th, and Buddha got the best of Helliecat and Shouldofbeenanokie that day. He has since come back to run 3rd in a turf sprint and should go better on surface switch for 23% turf/dirt outfit. Torres strings along.

Ulah Tyson (8th race) is my longshot play of the day, and ‘Cisco Torres rides him as well. Lara is 21% 1st off the claim, and I like the confident class hike after $7.5k place finish off a layoff.

Note that my September 24th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Saturday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

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With an early post time of 12pm, my daily handicapping seminar was moved up an hour. I was joined by Louisiana Downs track announcer Travis Stone and special guests Nick Tammaro and Pat Cummings. The seminar was very informative, and the latter duo chipped in with interviews throughout the day…great job guys!

TVG commentators Frank Mirahmadi and Chris Kotulak at LAD

On the analysis front, I got four tops home, and my analyzed contenders were firing all day. The crowd was appreciative of my paddock show, and note that TVG was also on hand for our big day.

Unfortunately, after a couple of unsettled weather weeks, were were off the turf on Saturday. Fast main track played fair, especially in route races. Hat trick for jockey Francisco Torres, and leading rider Don Simington booted home a pair.

Unbridled Handicap: Complexion of this one changed when it was moved to the main track. Mogumbo Cat was a slam dunk on the turf, but she was much less proficient on the main and settled for runner-up honors behind late running winner Que Paso ($7). Don Simington rode the winner for trainer Allen Milligan.

Barksdale Air Force Base Color Guard

Sunday Silence Stakes: Possibly the most impressive win of the afternoon was turned in by William’s Kitten, who came from nowhere to dust my longshot play of the day Perfect Lou. This one was also originally scheduled for the turf. The promising 2yo son of Kitten’s Joy, out of a Menifee mare, was ridden by Garrett Gomez and is trained by Michael Maker.

Temperence Hill Stakes: This race looked like the most competitve stakes event on the card, and Johnny V brought home 11-1 outsider Southern Style.

Happy Ticket Stakes: My 3rd choice The Rumor’s True ($25.40) bested wiseguy selection Seasoned in this off the turf affair for juvenile fillies. I was happy for local trainer Steven Duke and was able to congratulate him after the race. He has had numerous underneath finishes at the current stand, and it was great to see him in the winners’ circle today!

Regal Ransom wins the 30th Super Derby

Grade 2 Super Derby: I covered this one in an earlier post. Watched this race in the winners’ circle and got an up close and personal view of wire job winner Regal Ransom. He controlled proceedings throughout and had plenty left in reserve to hold safe my top choice Blame. The top two appear to have bright futures. Hats off to Godolphin for having this one ready to roll in 1st start since Ky Derby.

River Cities Stakes: Again, things would have been much different if we were on the grass. My best bet on the card Dancin Perfect is clearly better on sod. She can handle the main but is not as fast on dirt, and I stated that fact numerous times in the paddock show. Same went for Category Seven, who ended up a clear 2nd behind Martin’s Bay. The winner loved the main and kept on finding under ‘Cisco Torres.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Under a heady ride by Richard Migliore, the Godolphin runner strolled through fractions of :24.05, :49.03, and 1:13.11. He got a mile in 1:36.95 and had plenty left in reserve to hold off the hard charging Blame in 1:49.63. The race was won between the quarter and the half when he was able to get away with two hidden furlongs in almost 25 seconds. Good horses will almost always win under those pace circumstances.

Regal Ransom wins the 30th Super Derby

Give credit to the winner for coming off a layoff and getting the job done. Before the Super Derby, he was last seen attending the pace and finishing 8th of 19 in the Kentucky Derby on the 1st Saturday in May.

Blame did everything but win on Saturday. The late blooming son of Arch, trained by Al Stall Jr., was racing three wide on the backstretch and had no shot to catch the loose on the lead winner. He leveled off in the stretch and was clearly 2nd best. He has a graded stakes with his name on it in the near future.

Massone saved all the ground and was a clear 3rd. Soul Warrior prompted the pace and finished 4th. Red Lead, Uno Mas, and Electric Alphabet rounded out the order of finish.

The highly regarded Friesan Fire, who finished 18th in the Ky Derby and 10th in the Preakness, is back in training after injuring his leg in the 2nd jewel of the Triple Crown. He may be switching barns since his current trainer Larry Jones is expected to retire at the end of this year.

Blue Grass winner General Quarters has resumed training after knee surgery sent him to the sidelines following a 9th place finish in the Preakness.

Travers runner-up Hold Me Back is a beast on synthetic ground, and he returns to preferred footing in the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park on September 26th.

The much anticipated rematch between 1-3 Travers finishers Summer Bird and Quality Road takes place in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 3rd at Belmont Park. Both are coming up to the race in good order, and the latter is trying to recover from a less than idea trip in the Midsummer Derby. It should be an exciting contest if both bring their A games.

Image: Stacy Edwards

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Sloppy track and off the turf once again. Main track played fair.

Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington.

Kept the analysis hot streak going with four winning top choices including best bet Izzy Golden ($7.80). Note that daily late Pick 4 play will resume on Saturday with $100k guaranteed pool. We did not have time to work up the graphics, etc. with all of the Super Derby preparations on Thursday and Friday.

Category Seven at Louisiana Downs

September 19th Preview

Weather: Isolated Thunderstorms (30% chance). High 79.

Saturday’s 13-race card includes six stakes races and includes the Grade 2 $750k Super Derby.

Unbridled Handicap: Mogumbo Cat goes for his 5th straight win and is clearly the one to beat under Garrett Gomez.

Sunday Silence Stakes: Analysis with wagering strategies can be found on Horse Racing Nation.

Temperence Hill Stakes: Wide open sprint. Morning line fav Cosmic drew the outside post and will be rallying from the back of the pack.

Happy Ticket Stakes: Rich Pearl is the morning line favorite exiting a solid win in the local prep for this.

Grade 2 Super Derby: Analysis with wagering strategies can be found on Horse Racing Nation.

River Cities Stakes: Category Seven (shown above) has been a gem of consistency this year with ten exacta finishes from as many starts. A head and a neck away from 6 straight tallies.

Note that my September 19th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Saturday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Wet track and off the turf again as the damp weather persists. The two seven furlong winners went last to first. Edge to early/pressing types in the other races.

A pair of wins for Richard Eramia and ‘Cisco Torres.

Based on the way extended sprints played, my best bet Appealingtome ran well in the 4th. She set the pace and just held the show. I thought she was a bit suspect in the stamina department, and the track profile did not help her cause. Next time at a shorter distance.

Three value tops home including Miss Alice Nell ($17.20), Margos Walker ($11.60), and bet down longshot play of the day Dreamsalive ($9).

Away they go at Louisiana Downs!

September 18th Preview

Weather: Thunderstorms (60% chance). High 80.

Friday’s 9-race card features three grass races, but we are probably off the turf again after more rain on Thursday. Hoping for some better weather for Super Derby Saturday

Cour d’Appel (2nd race) is my longshot play of the day. He proved he could route in turf maiden breaker earlier in the meet, and he built up more speed in recent five furlong test.

Izzy Golden (7th race) is my best bet on the card. She finished an above par 2nd in same race my longshot play of the day exits, and this event will probably be run at seven furlongs on the main.

Note that my September 18th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Friday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Wet track and off the turf again. Early/pressing types dominated.

Richard Eramia, Don Simington, and ‘Cisco Torres each booted home a pair. Jerry Cart saddled two winners on the day.

Lucky Lou rallied from off the pace to finish a clear 2nd in the 6th race. He ran a winning race against the bias but could not reel in wire job winner Smokin’ Spirit. Royal Twine finished an even 3rd and is better on turf.

Big rebound day on the analysis front. Four tops got the job done and paid $8.60, $22.80, $13.20, and $4. The first three were part of the early Pick 4, and my 2nd choice nabbed the other leg. Note that nobody tabbed four correctly, and 3 of 4 paid $271.40. My race 2-5 analysis could have netted the entire $5k Pick 4 pool!

You know what is coming next. Frequent visitors to this blog and followers of Louisiana Downs racing are aware that I post a daily late Pick 4 ticket at the track. After the early Pick 4 was over, I knew a late card bounce was coming. My suggested $60 ticket bit the dust after Smokin’ Spirit pulled off a wire job in the 6th. I ended up with 2 of 4 and went 0-4 overall in my late Pick 4’s this week. Super Derby week next week, and I am looking to get back on the Pick 4 beam!

Super Derby Call to Post!

September 17th Preview

Weather: Thunderstorms (60% chance). High 78.

Thursday’s 9-race card features four grass races, but we may be off the turf with all of the recent rains.

Appealingtome (4th race) is my best bet on the card. Not much pace in the paper ran and should make presence felt throughout.

Dreamsalive (8th race) is my longshot play of the day. Dons the hood, and barn is 2 for 3 turf to dirt.

Note that my September 17th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Thursday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Soul Warrior, who scratched out of the Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day because of a temperature, has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite. The Steve Asmussen trainee has been part of the exacta in three straight and defeated Ky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby last time.

UAE Derby winner Regal Ransom is probably the one to catch. Godolphin trainee is working well for his first start since attending the pace and finishing 8th of 19 in the Kentucky Derby.

Super Derby post position draw

Blame earned the best last race speed rating in the Curlin Stakes at the Spa, and runner-up Gone Astray came back to romp in the aforementioned Penn Derby. Barn won this race last year with My Pal Charlie.

Massone exits a confidence boosting optional claiming turf win at Del Mar for Ron McAnally, and the place finisher was a next out winner. He has placed in multiple graded events including Keeneland’s Blue Grass. Garrett Gomez has the call.

Super Derby Prelude winner Uno Mas, also trained by Steve Asmussen, is listed at 8-1 on the line. He earned his first stakes win last time and will be finishing.

Red Lead owns fine early-pressing speed and drew the rail. ‘Cisco Torres hops aboard, and he should be coming to a peak effort. Note that he finished less than a length behind Soul Warrior in June.

Electric Alphabet rounds out the field, and he is on the upswing for Cecil Borel. Leading rider Don Simington rode him to a place finish in the Prelude.

2009 Super Derby – Louisiana Downs Race 11 - Sat. Sept 19th

1. Red Lead (15-1) – Francisco Torres

2. Soul Warrior (2-1) – John Velazquez

3. Massone (4-1) – Garrett Gomez

4. Regal Ransom (5-2) – Richard Migliore

5. Blame (7-2) – Jamie Theriot

6. Uno Mas (8-1) – Shane Sellers

7. Electric Alphabet (15-1) – Don Simington

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Soul Warrior, who scratched out of the Penn Derby on Labor Day because of a temperature, has recovered and is the likely Super Derby favorite. The Steve Asmussen trainee was last seen downing Ky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby. John Velazquez has the mount.

Regal Ransom in the '09 Ky Derby

UAE Derby hero Regal Ransom is probably the one to catch. Godolphin colorbearer was last seen attending the pace and finishing 8th of 19 in the Run for the Roses.

Blame is an interesting entrant for Al Stall Jr., who captured this event last year with My Pal Charlie. Late bloomer won the Curlin Stakes at the Spa last time, and runner-up Gone Astray came back to romp in the aforementioned Penn Derby.

Massone is invading from SoCal for Ron McAnally, and he has placed in multiple graded events. He exits a sharp tally in an optional claiming turf affair, and Garrett Gomez has the call.

The top three from the Super Derby Prelude are expected to come back for more, including winner and Soul Warrior’s stablemate Uno Mas. The improving Electric Alphabet is a live longshot for Cecil Borel, and show finisher Red Lead has hit the board in three straight stakes races. Francisco Torres is scheduled to ride the latter.

Sumo is not 100% to go on Saturday, but he would be a major top three player should he opt for this spot. The Graham Motion trainee was last seen winning the Pleasant Colony Stakes at the Spa.

I will be back tomorrow with program numbers and morning line odds.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

The former was forced to miss the Travers following minor throat surgery, and the latter will probably shoot for the Jockey Club Gold Cup after a sharp win in the Travers (G1).

We have about seven or eight seriously looking at our event, and that list begins with the Super Derby Prelude top three Uno Mas, Electric Alphabet, and Red Lead.

Uno Mas in Super Derby Prelude post parade

Uno Mas, trained by Steve Asmussen, rallied from off the pace to get the job done in an exciting 3-horse photo in the Prelude. He had been a minor player in the stakes ranks before that and could be ready for the next level following his confidence boosting score.

Electric Alphabet is campaigned by Cecil Borel, and he jumped right into stakes action in the Prelude after breaking his maiden at Churchill. Calvin Borel rode him in all starts before leading rider at Louisiana Downs Don Simington took over the riding duties last time. Would be cool to see him reunite with Calvin.

Red Lead has been pointing to the Super Derby for quite some time, and he received a fine prep in the Prelude. He owns early/pressing speed and should move forward on the 19th.

Blame is a late blooming colt for Al Stall Jr., who saddled last year’s Super Derby winner My Pal Charlie. He was last seen winning the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.

Duke of Mischief dusted Red Lead and Uno Mas in the Iowa Derby, and he was last seen finishing 5th behind Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell.

Massone is expected to invade from Southern California for Ron McAnally. Garrett Gomez has the call, and he exits a sharp optional claiming turf tally at Del Mar. He was 3rd in the Blue Grass (G1) in April.

Regal Ransom would be an interesting speed threat should he opt for the Super Derby. The Godolphin colorbearer won the UAE Derby in Dubai earlier this year, and he was part of the pace before weakening to 8th in the Kentucky Derby.

Sumo was a sharp stalk and pounce winner of the Pleasant Colony Stakes at the Spa on Aug. 26th. He showed his quality earlier this year splitting General Quarters and Musket Man in a graded event at Tampa Bay.

$1,000 Regular Nominations for the Super Derby close on September 5th, and I’ll be back next week to update the possible field.

Image: Stacy Edwards

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