Louisiana Downs will run nothing but stakes races next Saturday, Aug. 5. The track drew the fields for nine stakes today, Saturday. The program includes the $60,000 Prelude, on turf as a prep for the now green Super Derby; the Louisiana Cup series of stakes for statebreds; and a pair of open company turf races moved up from Evangeline Downs.
The program has a 3:15 p.m. Central post next Saturday.
Here's a look at the fields:
The opener is the Louisiana Cup Juvenile that drew seven head led by Aceguitar, runner-up to the Saratoga-bound Galactica in the $105,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at Lone Star Park. Ted Gondron has the mount for trainer Danny Pish.
The second race is the $50,000 John Henry, a mile and a sixteenth turf race for 3-year-olds and up that was to have originally been run at Evangeline. The races were moved because Evangeline has been unable to use its turf course this meet. Ibaka, a seven-time stakes winner, drew the rail and will be ridden by Eddie Martin, Jr. The field of nine also includes Rocket Time, Fort Pulaski and Big Changes.
The third race is the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint that goes with 11, including Mr. Al's Gal, winner of her last five starts, and Look Into My Eyes, a recent stakes winner at Evangeline.
The fourth race is the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff that drew an overflow field of 14, including also-eligibles Illusionofreality and Big Game Baby.
The fifth race is the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies. Girls Life, who is entered in Saturday night's $75,000 fillies division of the D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity at Evangeline, will scratch from that spot in favor of this one, according to her trainer, Karl Broberg. Janae, winner of the recent $100,000 fillies division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity, drew post 12 in the field of 13.
The sixth race is the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic, and the overflow field of 14 includes Sir Genghis, recent winner of the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Classic at Evangeline, and Trust Factor, who captured the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Turf run at Louisiana Downs. Missing from the line up is String King, the millionaire who had a minor physical setback and could see action next month or await Fair Grounds, according to his trainer, Charlie Smith. The Louisiana Cup Turf Classic will have a maximum gate of 12.
The seventh race is the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint, which drew 14. Jockamo's Song shipped in from the East Coast and won over this division in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint at Evangeline and after the race trainer Michael Stidham said he was considering leaving the horse in the state to await the Louisiana Cup.
The eighth race is the $60,000 Prelude, which is the local prep for the Super Derby. A field of eight was entered including Royal By Nature, who won last year's Sunday Silence over the Franks course at Lousiana Downs. For this trip, the horse will add blinkers. Richard Eramia has the mount for trainer Brad Cox. Royal By Nature drew post 3.
The ninth and final race on the card is the $50,000 Opelousas for fillies and mares at a mile. It was transferred to Louisiana Downs from Evangeline. An overflow field of 13 was entered, with Soul Affair stuck on the also-eligible list in the race that will have a maximum gate of 12. Sister Blues figures to start as a top contender off an optional $62,500 claiming win at Churchill Downs. Other contenders include La Piba, P Boo and Artistic License.