The field for Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby was beginning to take shape on Monday, with Golden Moka, winner of the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, and Distorted Economy, an up and coming horse for trainer Neil Drysdale, committing to the race. Hurricane Ike, who two starts ago won the Grade 3 Derby Trial, is now a strong possibility for the Louisiana Downs fixture for trainer John Sadler.
“We’re leaning toward going,” Sadler said Monday.
Apart, meanwhile, remains probable after winning last month’s local Super Derby prep, the $100,000 Prelude. Other locals, Wando Redd and Ricky Tick, are possible to make for a working list of six horses for the 1 1/8-mile race. First Dude, who had been considered for the Super Derby, instead is headed for the Grade 2, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby.
Golden Moka could go favored in First Dude’s absence. He is undefeated in four starts, and got the call for the Super Derby after working six furlongs in 1:12.60 in company at his Woodbine base Saturday.
“It was a good, solid work,” said Brian Lynch, who trains Golden Moka. “I was very happy with it. He worked like a good horse would work going into a good race.”
Lynch said Anthony Stephen, who was aboard Golden Moka for the Prince of Wales, has the mount. The horse is scheduled to van from Woodbine to Lexington, Ky., on Wednesday, then fly from Kentucky to Louisiana on Thursday.
Distorted Economy, who was third by a half-length in the $100,000 El Cajon at Del Mar in his stakes debut Sept. 3, was to have his final work for the Super Derby on Tuesday, said Drysdale. The horse is then scheduled to fly from his Hollywood Park base to Louisiana Downs on Wednesday. Drysdale said there were a couple of different reasons to point Distorted Economy for the Super Derby.
“We thought he ran a winning race the other day at Del Mar in the El Cajon,” he said. “He seems to be improving, and it looks to be a short field in Louisiana, so we thought we’d take a crack at it.”
Drysdale said Tyler Baze has the mount.
Hurricane Ike is also based in Southern California. Sadler said Joel Rosario would ride if the horse runs Saturday.
The Super Derby will be drawn on Wednesday. The race will lead a card of eight stakes worth more than $1 million.
