9/25 (LaD) Super Derby
 

11th (5:23) Super Derby S. (G2)

1 1/8 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $500,000

1 Ricky Tick St Julien M 124 L
2 Arctic Comet Jacinto J 124 L
3 Apart Campbell J M 124 L
4 Hurricane Ike Rosario J 124 L
5 Golden Moka Stephen A 124 L
6 Distorted Economy Valenzuela P A 124 L

This is sad and pathetic for 500k... Especially with how last years 1-2 runners have performed. One would think this race might gain a bit of momentum. GUESS NOT.

This is really getting bad.

Quality and field size for this amount of $?

It's bad, but it's also the state of racing in 2010. The PA Derby came up okay, considering who is left running. Having this race and the PA Derby on the same weekend will probably always dillute each race with the current state of the game.

Not to mention having the 500K Grade 2 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park next week. And the 400K Oklahoma Derby at Remington the week after that.

That's 4 Derby's worth a total of $2.4 million in two weeks time.

Why not just make a race called the Trailer Parx State Grand Slam Classic - make it worth $2.4 million - and run it at Parx one year, LAD the next, Hooiser the next, and Remington the next in that rotation.

The 3YOs are pitiful this year, no one needs to sugarcoat it. They're beginning to make the 2008 crop look like one of the best ever.

You have a 500k and million dollar race in late September fighting for a headliner and that horse is eligible for a N1X.

The Super Derby and Pennsylvania Derby to some extent, fell victim to the fact that there's basically three "good" 3YOs right now. One can't seem to run a race without spiking a fever afterwards and is going to the Indiana Derby. The other two are trained by horsemen who rarely leave NY or the Northeast, so the chances of them enjoying a weekend in the Shreveport-Bossier, LA metro area were slim and none.

NT

Crops are down. Expect more of this in the future.

Rather than tinkering with dates, because there are always too many big-purse dirt races for 3YOs, wouldn't Louisiana Downs be better served by trying to establish a signature race in another division? It's worked for Colonial Downs with their turf races, and a track like Calder with its Summit of Speed. The American Oaks was success for Hollywood when it was a $750K race.

Totally agree... it's hard though, because we have a race that still has power... regardless of the field, we've handled $1.3 million or so on the race itself each year I've been there... Going Ballistic or Regal Ransom/Blame, it doesn't matter. Giving-up on that isn't easy, but you're right in that there is possibly opportunity in other divisions.

As for turf/3yo's... it's been said... the only challenge there is the Jamaica at Bel is already a G1... and people don't bet 3yo turfers like they do 3yo dirt horses.

That makes too much sense.

Is it the name "Super Derby" that draws the handle, or the fact that LaDowns puts on a very attractive, stakes-filled card at a time in the racing season when there isn't a lot of competition, and the Super Derby is the signature race of the day?

In 2005, the Super Derby was held on JCGC day and it handled $4.3 million. Last year, we were off the turf, so that's a bit of a rough comparison. But in 2006-2008, the average handle was ~$7 million.

So to answer your question, I think it goes in this order:

1. Lack of competition
2. The fact it's the 'Super Derby'
3. Undercard of good betting races/guaranteed P4

Calder is the poster child of carving out a niche event with their Summit of Speed. It takes $... which is always an issue, but yeah, all cards are on the table this off-season.

What is sad is horses ducking other ones. In the past months we have heard owners talk about how they got superstars and how they can't wait to face to big boys. Instead what happens?

Ken Ramsey says the day before the Travers draw,Pleasant Prince will skip the Travers because "He would not come out of the barn in the rain". He will instead go to the Smarty Jones and onto the PA Derby. Yes the Smarty Jones Stakes which gave the winner a free pass to the PA Derby. Well that winner skipped the race to and why? Cause he has no chance.

IEAH says they aquire Trickmeister for the Travers-he is a super horse and gonna wire the field. Instead he ducks the race and destroys nobodys. 5 mins later he is set to going to the PA Derby,however Monday morning First Dude announces is going to the PA Derby and Trickmeister comes down with a injury.:confused:

Moral of the story is RUN the damn horse!!!!!!! All of these owners would rather enter their horse in a race that they would be the 4/5 fave in a 25k allowance race instead of enter their horse in a 1 million dollar race where it would be at 10/1.

shocked that some of the big names don't take some swings with their second stringers here..... i mean, just a placing in a G1 is good for breeding, not really much to lose here

-bt-

I'm sorry....you are suggesting Dutrow is ducking First Dude?

It's not a Grade 1.

He is ducking someone. Just saying IEAH first quote about him was- Going to the Travers,he will wire the field and beat First Dude to the lead. Which Romans said First Dude does not need the lead. Trickmeister instead takes on a HARD (HAHA) Allowance race. IEAH then comes out and says off the the PA Derby,5 mins after that race. Monday comes around and Romans saying First Dude to the PA Derby which prompts "Trickmeister had a bad workout this morning and he will NOT be entered in the PA Derby"

So conclusion would be if First Dude is going to a race then Trickmeister won't be.:D

I remember a great time of blissful ignorance before the internet. Who knew then what kind of nonsense people actually believed.

FD is a decent at best horse that many people on this website have chased badly. He has never won anything significant and like I said 5 months ago he likely never will. Yes he has faced the best, sure... He has not won anything. I have never liked him and dont like him much in this spot. Last I read he was going to turf, seems like they are reaching a bit.