Eight horses have been entered this year. The morning line favorite is Private Emblem, winner of the Arkansas Derby. Top challengers to Private Emblem include the Godolphin Stable's Essence of Dubai, winner of the Dubai Derby (UAE-I) earlier this year and Oklahoma Derby (gr. III) winner The Judge Sez Who. Other starters include A.P. Five Hundred, Chop Chop, Glitzi's Classic, Thunder Days and Walk In The Snow.
Super Derby XXIII (gr. II) will air live on the TV Games Network at 6:05 p.m. EDT Saturday.The $500,000 1 1/8-mile race at Louisiana Downs is the last major race for 3-year-olds before the Breedersê Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on Oct. 26.Six horses that have raced in the Super Derby have gone on to win the Breedersê Cup Classic (gr. I) seven times. Two of these horses have won both the Super Derby and the Classic: Sunday Silence in 1989 and Tiznow in 2000. Others that made a stop in Bossier City on their way to winning the Classic were Unbridled, Concern, Alysheba, and Awesome Again.