California-based Blueskiesnrainbows, whose first trip eastward resulted in a ninth-place finish in the American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs Derby week this year, will try to make amends for that effort when he takes on eight rivals in the Super Derby (gr. II) at Louisiana Downs Saturday, Sept. 8. The English Channel colt is trained by Bob Baffert, who won last year's Super Derby with Prayer for Relief.
The $500,000 Super Derby, contested at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds, is the 10th race on the card and is scheduled with an approximate post of 5:10 p.m. CDT. Each runner totes 124 pounds.
Blueskiesnrainbows, whose two off-the-board efforts have come in turf races, enters the Super Derby off a triumph in the 1 1/8-mile Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Betfair Hollywood Park July 4 in which he set the pace and held on gamely to win by three-quarters of length. Joe Talamo, who rode him in the Swaps, is back for the Super Derby. Blueskiesnrainbows is owned by Bad Boy Racing and Whizway Farms and will break from the third post.
The Super Derby also has attracted the first four finishers from the 1 1/16-mile Prelude Stakes, a key Super Derby prep that was contested over the Louisiana oval Aug. 4. Key Donation, a son of Lawyer Ron, captured the Prelude by two lengths for his third win in five starts for owner Maggi Moss. He is trained by Tom Amoss.
Finishing second in the Prelude was Cherry Valley Farm’s Tensas Cold Front. The War Front gelding, trained by Al Stall Jr., has won his two other starts, both at Louisiana Downs including an allowance by 15 1/2 lengths in June.
The next two respective Prelude finishers, Mr Bluegrass Music and Master Rick, shipped in from out of state for the Prelude. Mr Bluegrass Music, a Bluegrass Cat colt raced by Jac Mac Stable and Carleton E. Formby, has finished in the top three in six of his seven starts including two other stakes-placings.
Master Rick, by Master Command, tried 1 1/8 miles in the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park in May and was beaten more than 20 lengths. He had back-to-back wins before that including a score in the Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April.
Hero of Order is one horse who should be familiar to all Louisiana racegoers. The son of Sharp Humor won this year’s Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at Fair Grounds at odds of 109-1. In his most recent start, he ran fifth in the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) in August.
Fly Lexis Fly, who won two group I stakes in Peru last year, finished fifth in the Cougar II Handicap (gr. III) at Del Mar in July in his sole start this year. The Kentucky-bred colt is by Badge of Silver .
Rousing Sermon is the leader in the field by stakes appearances. After breaking his maiden in his first start, the son of Lucky Pulpit has competed in 11 stakes and sports a win in the Bob Benoit California Cup Juvenile and placings in such events as the Louisiana Derby and last year’s CashCall Futurity (gr. I).
Bourbon Courage, by Lion Heart, won his first two starts and since then has raced solely in graded event. He finished second in the West Virginia Derby last time out.
$500,000 Super Derby (gr. II, Race 10, 5:10 p.m.) 3-Year-Olds, 1 1/8 Miles (dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Mr Bluegrass Music, C. Landeros, R D Jackson
2. Key Donation, R.E. Eramia, T M Amoss
3. Blueskiesnrainbows, J. Talamo, B Baffert
4. Hero of Order, D.E. Simington, G Dorochenko
5. Fly Lexis Fly, M. Garcia, N D Drysdale
6. Master Rick, G. Melancon, S M Asmussen
7. Tensas Cold Front, M. Guidry, A M Stall Jr.
8. Rousing Sermon, M.E. Smith, J Hollendorfer
9. Bourbon Courage, L.R. Goncalves, K Gorder
All carry 124 pounds
