Louisiana Downs Alumni Shine

We had some quality horseflesh blow through Louisiana Downs this summer, and a couple did LAD proud over the weekend.

First up was Blame, the 2009 Super Derby runner-up. He was my top selection when he ran at LAD, and I thought he was just as good if not better than wire job winner Regal Ransom. The latter saved all the ground through tepid splits, while the former raced wide chasing pedestrian fractions.

Blame was clearly 2nd best in the Super Derby, and in my horses to watch section of the LAD program, I said he was a future graded stakes winner.

Super Derby runner-up Blame at Louisiana Downs. He has since captured the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes and Grade 2 Clark Handicap.

The future came quickly as he earned his graded stripes in the Fayette (G2) at Keeneland on Oct 31st.

The Al Stall Jr. trainee stepped up to face tougher rivals such as Einstein and Macho Again in the Grade 2 Clark Handicap (Nov 27th) at Churchill Downs, and he smartly got the job done over fellow sophomore Misremembered.

Blame is headed to Fair Grounds with a possible start in the Mineshaft or New Orleans Handicap. His ultimate goal is the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

On the Super Derby undercard, William’s Kitten lagged far behind the Sunday Silence field, but like a shot he was almost five to the good on the wire under Garrett Gomez. Late runners do not win too often at Louisiana Downs, so his win was even better than it appeared on paper.

Before the Sunday Silence, the son of Kitten’s Joy made his bones on the turf, and after LAD he had unsuccessful synthetic runs in the Grey (5th) at Woodbine and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (8th) at Santa Anita.

Back on conventional dirt for the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs, and he rallied to finish clearly 2nd best behind controlling speed Super Saver.

It is almost a given that the Michael Maker runner will avoid synthetic ground and point for a dirt campaign with the Kentucky Derby as a springtime dream.

Image:  Stacy Edwards