The Super Derby is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually in September at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Super Derby
non-Graded race
LocationLouisiana Downs
Bossier City, Louisiana, USA
Inaugurated1980
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Websiteladowns.com
Race information
Distance1+18 miles
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
WeightColt/Gelding: 126 lbs
Filly 121 lbs.
PurseUS$200,000 (2023)[1]

Inaugurated in 1980, the Super Derby is open to three-year-olds and the distance is 1+18 miles on the dirt. It is the richest race held at Louisiana Downs. In its history, the Super Derby has attracted some of the top horses in the country including winners of all three American Classic Races.

The Super Derby was a Grade I race from 1983 to 2001. In 2002, it was downgraded to Grade II and in 2016, it was downgraded again to Grade III. It was originally run at the American classic distance of 1+14 miles, but in 2002 the distance was reduced to 1+18 miles (the exception being 2005 when the distance reverted to 1+14 miles). In 2017 the distance was set at 1+116 miles.

In summary: [1]

In 2017, the Super Derby lost its graded status and changed surfaces from dirt to turf. "Today, there are a lot fewer 3-year-old races on the grass. We want our key race to have the best and largest field we can put out there, and making the move to the turf, there's an opportunity to have a better overall quality field", stated Trent McIntosh, the assistant general manager of Louisiana Downs.[2] The race was later moved back to the dirt and run at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt as of 2023

  • 1+18 miles – 2002–2004, 2006–2016, 2023 - present
  • 1+14 miles – 1980–2001, 2005
  • 1+116 miles – 2017-2019
  • Dirt – 1980–2016, 2018-2019, 2023 - present
  • Turf – 2017

The 2020 Super Derby, what was to be the 40th running, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023 the event resumed as a Black-type event.

Records

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Speed record:

  • 1:48.36 – My Pal Charlie (2008) (at 1+18 miles)
  • 1:59.84 – Tiznow (2000) (at 1+14 miles)
  • 1:42.91 – Mr. Misunderstood (2017) (at 1+116 miles)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

  • 2 – Russell L. Reineman Stables (1986, 1990)

Winners

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Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2023 Big Data Emisael Jaramillo Michael Lerman Petal Power Racing Stable 1:51.83
2019 Rotation Richard Eramia Steve Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1:43.70
2018 Limation Diego Saenz Steve Asmussen Michael Langford 1:43.91
2017 † Mr. Misunderstood Chris Rosier Brad H. Cox Flurry Racing Stables LLC 1:42.91
2016 Texas Chrome Charles J. McMahon J. R. Caldwell Keene Thoroughbreds 1:49.87
2015 Mobile Bay Edgar S. Prado Victor Arceneaux Tigertail Ranch 1:50.83
2014 Vicar's in Trouble Rosie Napravnik Michael Maker Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey 1:50.38
2013 Departing Robby Albarado Albert Stall Jr. Claiborne Farm/Dilschneider 1:50.08
2012 Bourbon Courage Leandro R. Goncalves Kellyn Gorder Bourbon Lane Stable/Lynn 1:51.40
2011 Prayer for Relief Rafael Bejarano Bob Baffert Zayat Stables 1:52.29
2010 Apart Jesse M. Campbell Albert Stall Jr. Adele B. Dilschneider 1:52.31
2009 Regal Ransom Richard Migliore Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Stables 1:49.63
2008 My Pal Charlie Curt Bourque Albert Stall Jr. B. Wayne Hughes 1:48.36
2007 Going Ballistic Cliff Berry Donnie K. Von Hemel Kindred Thoroughbreds LLC 1:50.32
2006 Strong Contender Robby Albarado John T. Ward, Jr. John C. Oxley 1:48.60
2005 The Daddy Pablo Morales Salvador Gonzalez Greg Norman 2:03.15
2004 Fantasticat Gerard Melancon Bobby C. Barnett R Bar S Thoroughbreds 1:51.40
2003 Ten Most Wanted Pat Day Wallace Dollase J. Paul Reddam et al. 1:50.77
2002 Essence of Dubai Jorge F. Chavez Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:49.43
2001 Outofthebox Lonnie Meche Bernard S. Flint Richard Klein et al. 2:06.20
2000 Tiznow Chris McCarron Jay M. Robbins M. Cooper & C. Straub-Rubens 1:59.84
1999 Ecton Park Alex Solis W. Elliott Walden Mark H. Stanley 2:00.59
1998 Arch Corey Nakatani Frank L. Brothers Claiborne & A. B.Dilschneider 2:01.20
1997 Deputy Commander Chris McCarron Wallace Dollase Horizon Stable 2:01.20
1996 Editor's Note Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 2:02.10
1995 Mecke Jerry Bailey Emanuel Tortora James Lewis Jr. 2:00.10
1994 Soul of the Matter Kent Desormeaux Richard Mandella Burt Bacharach 2:03.20
1993 Wallenda Herb McCauley Frank A. Alexander Dogwood Stable 2:02.30
1992 Senor Tomas Aaron Gryder Peter M. Vestal Thomas Carey 2:04.00
1991 Free Spirit's Joy Calvin Borel Clarence Picou John Lane et al. 2:00.40
1990 Home At Last Jerry Bailey Carl Nafzger R. L. Reineman Stables 2:02.00
1989 Sunday Silence Pat Valenzuela Charlie Whittingham H-G-W Partners 2:03.10
1988 Seeking The Gold Pat Day C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps 2:03.40
1987 Alysheba Chris McCarron Jack Van Berg Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer 2:03.10
1986 Wise Times Eddie Maple Phil Gleaves R. L. Reineman Stables 2:04.00
1985 Creme Fraiche Eddie Maple Woody Stephens Brushwood Stables 2:02.40
1984 Gate Dancer Laffit Pincay Jr. Jack Van Berg Kenneth Opstein 2:00.10
1983 Sunny's Halo Laffit Pincay Jr. David C. Cross Jr. David J. Foster Stable 2:01.30
1982 Reinvested Jorge Velásquez Lefty Nickerson Harbor View Farm 2:01.30
1981 Island Whirl Laffit Pincay Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Elcee-H Stable 2:03.10
1980 Temperence Hill Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey Loblolly Stable 2:06.30
  • † Race run on turf.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Super Derby Race Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Louisiana Downs switches Super Derby to turf for 2017 | Daily Racing Form". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2017-09-09.