Knicks Go Ships to Louisiana for Super Derby

KRA Stud Farm's Knicks Go might not have a win in five starts this year, but his credentials as a juvenile and an improved effort last out landed him morning-line favoritism for the $300,000 Super Derby (G3) Sept. 7 at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

The gray/roan Paynter  colt won the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland at odds of 70-1 last fall, then ran second in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

In his most recent outing, Knicks Go led nearly every step of the Aug. 11 Ellis Park Derby before being caught late and finishing a half-length behind Gray Magician. The Ben Colebrook trainee will break from post 8 when he faces nine rivals in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile event. Colby Hernandez will ride.

"When he turned 3, it took him a while to get back on track," Colebrook said. "But he has faced some tough horses, including Mr. Money, who is one of the best 3-year-olds in the country. The Super Derby is a good spot for him; we are excited to be coming on Saturday."

Colebrook said Knicks Go will leave Kentucky Thursday.

Trainer Steve Asmussen will try to win back-to-back editions of the Super Derby after sending out Limation to victory a year ago. His two runners this year are Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Rotation, the program 3-1 second choice, and Chuck Hovitz's Vangilder.

Rotation stumbled to his knees in the Aug. 3 Super Derby Prelude Stakes, then rallied late to finish fourth. The Tapit  colt was also fourth one start earlier June 1 against allowance company at Churchill Downs, where he was bothered at the start. Those efforts followed a frontrunning maiden victory May 4 on a sloppy Churchill track.

"He grabbed himself pretty badly, but, thankfully, is fully healed," Asmussen said of Rotation in the Prelude. "We had options for Vangilder but thought this would be a good spot for him."

Vangilder was transferred to Asmussen after running for a $25,000 tag at Santa Anita Park. The Paynter colt has won two of three starts since, including the July 20 Charles Taylor Derby (non-black type) at Albuquerque.

Rotation drew the rail and will be ridden by Richard Eramia. Vangilder will be in post 4 with C.J. McMahon.

Prelude winner Leader of Men, trained by Jodie Hodges for Walpole Racing, has won four consecutive races, all at Louisiana Downs. Hector Del-Cid will ride from post 9.

The Super Derby tops seven stakes on Saturday's card. The remaining six are worth $60,000 apiece and run on the turf.

The Frank L. Brothers Stakes is headed by Brad Cox-trained Big Changes. The 7-year-old Midshipman  gelding is a five-time stakes winner and has won over the course and distance. Big Changes has two wins in five starts this season, including the Jan. 19 Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-olds and up is named after the New Orleans native and nine-time leading trainer at Louisiana Downs. Brothers won the 1998 Super Derby with Arch and was inducted into the inaugural Harrah's Louisiana Downs Racing Hall of Fame July 13.  

Fillies and mares 3 years old and up will run the same distance in the River Cities Stakes. Is Too could score her third straight black-type win after taking the Opelousas Stakes and Louisiana Cup Distaff Stakes this summer. She'll face Remember Daisy, a winner of three stakes (two black type) in Louisiana last year who will have class relief after trying grade 1 company in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1T).

The Sunday Silence Stakes and Happy Ticket Stakes (for fillies) will send juveniles 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass. 

Asmussen entered Valiant Defender and Violator in the Sunday Silence. Those two will take on the Danny Pish-trained Deviant, a 7 3/4-length winner over Valiant Defender in the Aug. 14 El Joven Stakes at Retama Park. Violator enters off a gate-to-wire maiden score Aug. 16 at Ellis Park.

In the Happy Ticket, Tizsfranderella aims to stay undefeated in her third start after taking the Aug. 14 La Senorita Stakes at Retama. She won a June 13 maiden at Evangeline Downs on debut.

Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds take the stage in the A. L. (Red) Erwin Stakes and Elge Rasberry Stakes (for fillies), with both races at a mile. 

Star Fitzstall, a full brother to Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) winner Minit to Stardom, will make his stakes debut in the Red Erwin. The son of Star Guitar  broke his maiden against one other horse July 24 at Delaware Park before scoring a 3 1/2-length allowance victory there Aug. 19.

Snowball will look to return to the winner's circle in the Elge Rasberry after capturing the Louisiana Legends Soiree Stakes three starts back. She lost by a head in her most recent effort after setting the pace in a July 25 allowance at Evangeline.

Entries: A. L. (Red) Erwin S.

Harrah's Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack, Saturday, September 07, 2019, Race 4

• STK
• 1m
• Turf
• $60,000
• 3 yo Colts and Geldings
• 1:26 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Bailey's Power (LA)	Joel Dominguez	117	Jorge Lara	6/1
2	2Make Me Smile (LA)	Timothy Thornton	119	Keith G. Bourgeois	10/1
3	3Tensas Ten (LA)	Gerardo Mora	117	Shane Wilson	30/1
4	4Run Rocket (LA)	Eguard Andres Tejera	117	Beverly Burress	6/1
5	5Calimambo (LA)	Hector Del-Cid	119	James E. Hodges	12/1
6	6Andy Jones (LA)	Jose Andres Guerrero	117	Rhonda Snodderly	15/1
7	7Luck of the Draw (LA)	Colby J. Hernandez	117	Matt A. Shirer	7/2
8	8Izzy's Baby Boy (LA)	Chris R. Rosier	117	Scott Gelner	12/1
9	9Star Fitzstall (LA)	Marcelino Pedroza	119	Jose M. Camejo	4/1
10	10Hampton Roads (LA)	Diego Saenz	119	Victor Arceneaux	9/2
11	11Joemo (LA)	Carlos Lozada	117	Jason H. Meaux	20/1
12	12Richie Gary (LA)	Robby Albarado	117	Gary M. Scherer	20/1
13	13Senator Con (LA)	Richard E. Eramia	117	Alfonso Balderas	20/1
14	14Such (LA)	Odilon Martinez	117	Jorge Lara	15/1

Entries: Happy Ticket S.

Harrah's Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack, Saturday, September 07, 2019, Race 6

• STK
• 7 1/2f
• Turf
• $60,000
• 2 yo Fillies
• 2:25 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Film Study (LA)	Tyler Woodley	116	Jeff Delhomme	12/1
2	2Oretta (LA)	Alexander Castillo	116	Donald Melancon	10/1
3	3Josie (KY)	Diego Saenz	116	Brad H. Cox	3/1
4	4Lucky Queen (KY)	Richard E. Eramia	114	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1
5	5Envied (KY)	Colby J. Hernandez	116	Ben Colebrook	4/1
6	6Sebs Princess (LA)	Jose Andres Guerrero	114	Steven Duke	15/1
7	7Sister Chloe (LA)	Chris R. Rosier	116	Cortland Harrison	20/1
8	8Cedar Hall (KY)	Lane J. Luzzi	116	Danny Pish	6/1
9	9High On Gin (FL)	Devin H. Magnon	116	Carl J. Deville	8/1
10	10Thirstyamericangal (KY)	Kerwin D. Clark	114	Carl J. Deville	30/1
11	11Tizsfranderella (KY)	Thomas L. Pompell	122	Justin Jeansonne	7/2

Entries: Sunday Silence S.

Harrah's Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack, Saturday, September 07, 2019, Race 8

• STK
• 7 1/2f
• Turf
• $60,000
• 2 yo
• 3:26 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Deviant (ON)	Lane J. Luzzi	122	Danny Pish	5/2
2	2Free Indeed (LA)	Kerwin D. Clark	116	Carl J. Deville	8/1
3	3Valiant Defender (KY)	C.J. McMahon	116	Steven M. Asmussen	6/1
4	4Rosslare Harbour (KY)	Colby J. Hernandez	116	Keith G. Bourgeois	15/1
5	5Crimson Zip (KY)	Floyd Wethey, Jr.	114	Scott Gelner	8/1
6	6Violator (ON)	Richard E. Eramia	116	Steven M. Asmussen	7/2
7	7Slam's Man (LA)	Aubrie Green	116	Joe O. Duhon	30/1
8	8Outofmybind (LA)	Joel Dominguez	116	James E. Hodges	4/1
9	9Fast Verdict (LA)	Carlos Lozada	116	Carl J. Deville	15/1
10	10Sea Bee Salute (KY)	Timothy Thornton	116	Shane Wilson	12/1

Entries: River Cities S.

Harrah's Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack, Saturday, September 07, 2019, Race 9

• STK
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $60,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 3:57 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Bee Balm (KY)	Richard E. Eramia	118	Patrick Mouton	20/1
2	2Is Too (LA)	Colby J. Hernandez	124	Edward J. Johnston	7/2
3	3Dagny (TX)	Eguard Andres Tejera	118	Joseph P. Smith	15/1
4	4Ruffina (KY)	Diego Saenz	122	Brad H. Cox	3/1
5	5Eskenformore (LA)	Carlos Lozada	118	James E. Hodges	15/1
6	6Lounge Act (KY)	Robby Albarado	120	Eric R. Reed	7/2
7	7All About Clara (AR)	Joel Dominguez	115	Tim Dixon	30/1
8	8N. D. Free (KY)	Marcelino Pedroza	118	John Hirdes	20/1
9	9Remember Daisy (LA)	Timothy Thornton	118	Gary M. Scherer	5/2
10	10Mariah's Galaxy (LA)	Kevin J. Smith	118	Victor Arceneaux	15/1
11	11Bella Cajun (LA)	Aubrie Green	118	Ralph J. Dore	30/1

Entries: Frank L. Brothers S.

Harrah's Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack, Saturday, September 07, 2019, Race 10

• STK
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $60,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:28 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Kurilov (CHI)	Diego Saenz	118	Brad H. Cox	5/2
2	2Nate's Attack (KY)	Eguard Andres Tejera	118	Lonnie Briley	30/1
3	3Dynamite Dan (LA)	Joel Dominguez	120	John Henry Prather, Jr.	20/1
4	4Harlan Selection (ARG)	Gerardo Mora	120	Shane Wilson	10/1
5	5McFeely (KY)	Kerwin D. Clark	124	John Ney	12/1
6	6Killeen (FL)	Chris R. Rosier	120	Ron Faucheux	20/1
7	7Theoryintopractice (LA)	Richard E. Eramia	124	Steven M. Asmussen	6/1
8	8Social Misfit (LA)	Robby Albarado	118	Justin Jeansonne	30/1
9	9Late Nite Mischief (KY)	Timothy Thornton	120	Arthur L. Pike, III	8/1
10	10In the Navy (LA)	Floyd Wethey, Jr.	118	Scott Gelner	10/1
11	11Tashkent (KY)	Emanuel Nieves	120	John Henry Prather, Jr.	30/1
12	12Big Changes (FL)	Colby J. Hernandez	124	Brad H. Cox	2/1
13	13Easter Snap (TX)	Kevin J. Smith	120	James T. Coats, Jr.	30/1
14	14Spiritual Warfare (KY)	Carlos Lozada	118	Jason H. Meaux	30/1

Entries: Super Derby (G3)

Harrah's Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack, Saturday, September 07, 2019, Race 11

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo
• 5:07 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Rotation (KY)	Richard E. Eramia	124	Steven M. Asmussen	3/1
2	2Cabot (KY)	Marcelino Pedroza	124	Ron Moquett	12/1
3	3Pirate's Punch (KY)	Robby Albarado	124	Grant T. Forster	10/1
4	4Vangilder (FL)	C.J. McMahon	124	Steven M. Asmussen	8/1
5	5Trevilion (LA)	Diego Saenz	124	Victor Arceneaux	8/1
6	6Rescind (KY)	Joel Dominguez	124	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	10/1
7	7Fredonian (KY)	Carlos Lozada	124	Jason H. Meaux	30/1
8	8Knicks Go (MD)	Colby J. Hernandez	124	Ben Colebrook	9/5
9	9Leader of Men (KY)	Hector Del-Cid	124	Jodie Hodges	6/1
10	10Paynt Battle (KY)	Thomas L. Pompell	124	Lonnie Briley	30/1