Super Derby No Problem for Vicar's in Trouble
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Favored Vicar's in Trouble, back in his home state for the first time since winning the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) in March, dominated the 35th renewal of the $400,000 Super Derby (gr. II) Sept. 6 at Louisiana Downs .
Rosie Napravnik delivered the victory aboard the smallish son of Into Mischief for trainer Mike Maker and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who were named the nation's top owners and breeders in 2013 the previous evening by Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
Spendthrift Farm bred Vicar's in Trouble in Louisiana out of the Vicar mare Vibrant.
With the victory, the seasoned Vicar's in Trouble surpassed $1 million in career earnings.
Sent off at odds of 6-5 in a field of 11 sophomores, Vicar's in Trouble always looked like a winner as he sat just off pacesetter Ide Be Cool before sweeping past coming into the stretch and cruising home by an official 7 1/4 lengths. The final time for the 1 1/8-mile test was 1:50.38 over a fast track.
"Visually it was one of his best races," said Maker. "It reminded me a lot of his Louisiana Derby."
Declan's Fast Cat, an 88-1 shot ridden by Gerard Melancon, edged Victory Nor Defeat by three-quarters of a length for second, with Ide Be Cool a head back in fourth.
Ide Be Cool provided a solid pace of :23.10, :47.88, and 1:12.21, with Vicar's in Trouble and Gold Appointment tracking. After dueling briefly with the front-runner around the final bend, Vicar's in Trouble pulled away through the stretch, leading by five lengths at the furlong mark in hand.
Vicar's in Trouble posted his first win since taking the Louisiana Derby by 3 1/2 lengths at Fairgrounds Race Course & Slots March 29 after also taking the Lecomte Stakes at Fairgrounds earlier in the year. After being roughed and finishing last of 19 in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), the dark bay colt most recently turned in back-to-back third-place efforts in the June 28 Iowa Derby (gr. III) and Aug. 2 West Virginia Derby (gr. II).
Posting his fourth win in nine starts along with four thirds, Vicar's in Trouble has now earned $1,128,900.
Consigned by Mark Toothaker and Spendthrift to the 2012 Equine Sales of Louisiana yearling sale, the colt brought $8,000 from Clyde Taylor. The Ramseys purchased him for $80,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale from Pike Racing, agent.
Under equal weights of 124 pounds, Vicar's in Trouble was good for $4.60, $3.60, and $2.60 across the board. Declan's Fast Cat was a big surprise with a $42.60 and $19 return, completing a $268.20 exacta. Victory Nor Defeat was worth $4.40 to show.
Ide Be Cool was followed by Jessica's Star, East Hall, Louisiana Flyboy, Announcement, Louies Flower, Alamo Heights, and Gold Appointment.