2011 Super Derby Day

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2011 Super Derby Day

Jockey Rafael Bejarano waves to the fans after winning the Super Derby aboard Prayer for Relief

Date: 09/10/2011

The highlight race of the Louisiana Downs meeting is the $500,000 Super Derby (G2). A field of 9 three-year-olds went 1 1/8 miles on the main track in Bossier City on Saturday, under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 90's. Prayer for Relief was sent off as the 6-5 favorite off a 3 race win streak including an allowance at Hollywood Park, the Iowa Derby (G3) at Prairie Meadows, and the West Virginia Derby (G2) at Mountaineer. In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Meistersinger, winner of an allowance last out after finishing third in the Barbaro Stakes both at Delaware Park, and 7-2 third choice Alternation, winner of the Peter Pan (G2) but fourth in the Jim Dandy (G2) last out.

Down the stretch in the Super Derby

Jockey Rafael Bejarano sent Prayer for Relief to the lead first time past the stands and he set very slow fractions of 24.48, 50.31, and 1:15.49 while being pressed by 13-1 Trubs and 59-1 Mr. Woodrow. Turning for home, 14-1 Awesome Bet, 6th early, and 20-1 Populist Politics, last early, moved up to challenge, and drew within a head of the favorite in mid-stretch through 1 mile in 1:40.08. However, aided by the slow early pace, Prayer for Relief easily dismissed them, drawing off late to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:52.29 over the fast track. Awesome Bet nosed out Populist Politics to gain second.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 5 Prayer For Relief Bejarano 4.40 3.20 3.20 9 Awesome Bet Shepherd 9.20 5.40 4 Populist Politics Melancon 9.20 Winning Time: 1:52.29 $2 Exacta 5-9 41.00 $2 Trifecta 5-9-4 391.40 $2 Superfecta 5-9-4-6 1484.60
Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Prayer For Relief's connections in the winner's circle. Jimmy Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert said, "He has really blossomed over the past four months. Last year, he wasn't showing what we wanted to see, so we had to run him where he was competitive, where he could win." On Sunday, Baffert confirmed that the Breeders' Cup Classic is the target, adding, "Distance is not a problem. His works tip me off when to run. (The Super Derby) was a good race for him. He didn't have to run very hard." Prayer for Relief returns to Santa Anita on Tuesday.

Right: Prayer for Relief comes over from the barn before the race.

Left: Second place finisher Awesome Bet comes over from the barn before the race. The 14-1 shot raced 6th early under jockey Justin Shepherd, then rallied to get second but was no match for the winner. The Steve Asmussen trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third in 12 starts, earning $239,304 for owner Mike McCarty.

Right: Third place finisher Populist Politics in the paddock before the race. The 20-1 shot trailed the field early under jockey Gerard Melancon, then rallied late to get third beaten 2 1/2 lengths but a beaten a nose for second. The Tom Amoss trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds in 10 starts, earning $232,395for owner Klaravich Stables.

Left: Prayer For Relief's connections pose with the trophy during the post race press conference. Winning jockey Rafael Bejarano said, "Today, I thought (Meistersinger) would be on the lead, but after the break you never know. I was supposed to be the second speed, and (Trubs) the third speed. He did it easily." Four Super Derby starters have gone on to win the Classic the same year, Sunday Silence, Unbridled, Concern, and Tiznow.

Right: The post parade for the 2011 Super Derby.

Gung Ho (outside) wins the Sunday Silence Stakes

Immediately before the Super Derby, a field of 12 two-year-olds contested the $150,000 Sunday Silence Stakes at 1 mile on the turf. The two-horse entry of One Bravo and Indian Assault was sent off as the 9-5 favorite over 9-2 Easton Jack and 5-1 Gung Ho.

10-1 Top Cat Boogie set fractions of 22.40, 47.85, and 1:13.21 over the firm course while 1 1/2 lengths in front of 7-1 Pryce's Posse stalking second. Into the stretch, Top Cat Boogie opened up a 3 length lead but Gung Ho, 5th early, closed on the outside to win by a neck in 1:37.35. It was 2 lengths back to Pryce's Posse third, while Indian Assault was 6th and One Bravo was last.

Results Chart from DRF.

She's All In (outside) wins the River City Stakes

The last stakes race on Super Derby day was the $100,000 River Cities Stakes for older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Skipping Town was the 5-2 favorite in the field of 8 over 3-1 Vickies in Town and 7-2 Category Seven. 6-1 Royal Madame went to the lead first time by and she set fractions of 23.42, 48.69, and 1:13.41 with Skipping Town pressing the pace in second. Entering the stretch Royal Madame tired as Vickies in Town, 4th early, moved up to take the lead at the 1/8 pole. However, 5-1 She's All In, 7th early, closed down the center of the course to get up by a head in 1:43.16 over the firm course. It was 1/2 a length back to Category Seven third, while Skipping Town faded to fifth.

Results Chart from DRF.

Golden Yank wins the Unbridled Stakes

The $100,000 Unbridled Stakes featured a field of 10 older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Mystic was sent off as the 3-2 favorite over 2-1 Lonesome Street and 9-1 Heavenville. 72-1 longest shot Jake Wil Gallop dueled for the lead with 12-1 Sweetsouthernmoon through a quick pace of 23.21, 46.96, and 1:11.26 over the firm going, with 33-1 String King and Lonesome Street stalking them third and fourth. On the far turn, Jake Wil Gallop tired allowing Sweetsouthernmoon to inherit the lead, but he faded in the final furlong, as 10-1 Golden Yank, last early, closed late to win by 1/2 a length over Lonesome Street in 1:41.29. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to favorite Mystic third.

Results Chart from DRF.

Tidal Volume wins the Temperance Hill Stakes

Just seven older horses went to post in the $50,000 Temperance Hill Stakes at 6 furlongs on the main track. Tidal Volume was the 8-5 favorite over 5-2 Southern Style and 4-1 Humble Destin. Jockey Gerard Melancon sent Tidal Volume to the lead exiting the chute and he set quick fractions of 22.65 and 45.85 while 2 lengths in front of Southern Style stalking in second. Tidal Volume opened up a 4 length lead in midstretch through 5/8 in 57.31, and easily held off late-running Humble Destin to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:10.24 over the fast track. It was another 5 1/4 lengths back to Southern Style third.

Results Chart from DRF.

Soonerette (inside) wins the Happy
Ticket Stakes

Kicking off the stakes action on Saturday was the $100,000 Happy Ticket Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going 1 mile on the turf. Exchanted was the 2-1 favorite in the field of 10 over 5-2 My Gi Gi and 3-1 Little Ms. Protocol. Jockey Ramon Dominguez sent 7-1 Soonerette to the lead first time past the stands and she set fractions of 22.62, 47.62, and 1:12.36 while as many as 1 1/2 lengths in front of 19-1 Lindsay's Song stalking her second. Into the stretch, Soonerette opened up 2 1/2 length lead, and was all out to hold off late-running My Gi Gi by a head in 1:36.99 over the firm course. It was a long 5 1/4 lengths back to 15-1 Burning Rage third.

Results Chart from DRF.

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