Commendable, Tiznow Head Super Derby Possibles

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Commendable and Tiznow, second against older horses in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (gr. I), head the list of possible starters for the $500,000 Super Derby (gr. I) at Louisiana Downs. D. Wayne Lukas, trainer of Commendable, won both the Belmont Stakes and Super Derby with Editor's Note in 1996.

The 1 1/4-mile race for 3-year-olds is the third leg of the MEC-DeBartolo Challenge, which also includes the Remington Park (gr. III) and Ohio (gr. II) Derbies, and will be broadcast live by ESPN on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Others listed as possible for the race by Louisiana Downs are: West Virginia Derby winner Mass Market, second in the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. III) in his most recent start; Remington Park Derby winner Performing Magic, who is eligible for MEC-DeBartolo Challenge bonus money; Chris's Bad Boy, winner of the Prelude Stakes in stakes record time; Cinema Handicap winner David Copperfield, last of 10 in the Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) when last out; John Frank's Kiss a Native, eligible for bonus money due to a third-place finish in the Ohio Derby; California Derby winner Bet On Red; Answermykiss, also owned by Franks; Gold Over Silver; and Peteski's Charm. Clever Brick is also nominated.

Each of the last four winner's of the Super Derby -- Editor's Note, Deputy Commander, Arch, and Ecton Park -- have gone on to race in that year's Breeder's Cup Classic (gr. I). The last time the Super Derby produced a Breeders' Cup Classic winner -- aside from 1988 Classic winner Awesome Again, fifth in the '97 Super Derby -- was Concern in 1994, who finished second to Soul of the Matter in that year's Super Derby. The last horse to successfully complete the Super Derby-BC Classic double in the same year was Sunday Silence in 1989.