Soul Warrior, Regal Ransom highlight Super Derby
West Virginia Derby (G2) winner SOUL WARRIOR (Lion Heart) and U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) hero REGAL RANSOM (Distorted Humor) are the top draws in Saturday's $750,000 Derby (G2) at Louisiana Downs. Seven sophomores are set for the 1 1/8-mile test, which has produced notables such as Gate Dancer, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, and Tiznow in past editions.
Soul Warrior, who upset rivals Mine That Bird (Birdstone) and Big Drama (Montbrook) at 23-1 in the West Virginia Derby last time out, will get a new rider in John Velazquez and figures to compete for favoritism with the returning Regal Ransom. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the chestnut colt was scratched from the September 7 Pennsylvania Derby (G2) after developing a fever the day before. Soul Warrior has recovered from that minor setback, breezing five furlongs at Saratoga on Monday in preparation for the Super Derby, and will break from post 2. Regal Ransom opened 2009 with a pair of seconds to Desert Party (Street Cry [Ire]) in Dubai and turned the tables on his stablemate when capturing the $2 million U.A.E. Derby on March 28, vaulting himself into the Kentucky Derby (G1) picture with the half-length score. He trained forwardly at Churchill Downs in preparation for the "Run for the Roses" and gave a solid account of himself with an eighth-place finish. Unraced since then, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt will make his first start in 140 days and pick up the services of Richard Migliore on Saturday.
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BLAME (Arch) will bring a two-race winning streak into his graded bow,
winning the August 2 Curlin S. at Saratoga most recently, and the Al Stall Jr.
runner will keep Jamie Theriot in the saddle. Grade 1-placed MASSONE
(Menifee), who exits a turf allowance/optional claiming score at Del Mar, has
shipped to the Midwest for conditioner Ron McAnally, and Garrett Gomez will be along
for the ride.
UNO MAS (Macho Uno), ELECTRIC ALPHABET (Alphabet Soup) and RED LEAD (Red
Bullet), the top three respective finishers in the local prep, the August 15
Prelude S., round out the Super Derby line-up.
Five stakes will be offered on the undercard. The $150,000
Sunday Silence S. and $100,000
Ticket S. serve as preps for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) and
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, respectively. Both events will be held at 1
1/16 miles on the turf course. MOGUMBO CAT (Van Nistelrooy), who extended his
win streak to four with a victory in the August 15 Shishkabob, heads a field of
six turf runners in the $75,000
Unbridled H. over 8 1/2 grassy furlongs, and a
contentious field of 11 turf distaffers will square off in the $75,000
Cities S. at the same distance. Ten sprinters are set for the $50,000
Temperence Hill S. at six furlongs.
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