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Lost in the crush of the Breeders’ Cup frenzy was my final notes on the Louisiana Downs meet, which concluded on Oct 4th. Below is a belated wrap of the LAD season in words and pictures. Click on the name of each horse to view stakes replays.
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
