Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Autumn Warrior a go for Derby
Autumn Warrior will head into next month’s Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs undefeated in three starts after he overcame a less-than-ideal trip to win the track’s local prep, the $60,000 Prelude, on Saturday.
“Right now, I’d have to say it’s a go,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said Monday.
Autumn Warrior was a 14 1/2-length debut winner May 5 at Louisiana Downs. One start later he set a quick pace and rolled home by 6 3/4 lengths in the $50,000 Lafayette at Evangeline Downs. He was testing both open company and two turns for the first time in the Prelude, and the Louisianabred son of Orb delivered as the even-money favorite. Autumn Warrior rallied for a neck win in a four-way photo Saturday.
“I was impressed with the race because his first two races were just so easy on him,” Stall said. “He clearly lacked seasoning and when he missed the break like that and had one horse beat under the wire first time, I was like, ‘We’re dead,’ for lack of a better term.”
Stall liked how Autumn Warrior was composed in the face of slow fractions and a wall of horses down the backside, how he advanced on the final turn, and how he ran through the lane Saturday.
“He was trying hard,” he said. “I liked the effort he gave …. I was impressed he hit the board, much less won the thing the way things went early.”
Autumn Warrior earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 77. He races for his breeder, the Autumn Hill Farms Racing Stables operation of Louisiana resident Robert Guidry. Autumn Warrior is from the stakes-winning mare Kinsolving and is based at Louisiana Downs.
“The Super Derby is in our own backyard,” Stall said. “We’re hoping that race really might help propel him forward a little bit. He took a ton of dirt. He had to wait. He had to fight. He did all that.”
Colby Hernandez was aboard for the Prelude and has the mount in the Super Derby, Stall said.
Stall will be looking for his fourth Super Derby win behind Apart, Departing, and My Pal Charlie. Stall pulled a PreludeSuper Derby double with Apart.
The first four finishers from this year’s Prelude all earned fees-paid berths into the Super Derby. The race will be back on dirt after a one-year experiment on turf. The Super Derby, which this year will be run at 1 1/16 miles, is set for Sept. 2.
Monte Man targets Sprint
Monte Man won his sixth straight race Saturday in the $60,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint at Louisiana Downs. His primary objective the remainder of the year is the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint at Fair Grounds, trainer Ron Faucheux said Monday.
The path Monte Man will take to that race, which holds a traditional December spot on the calendar, will be discussed with owner Brian Ivery.
“I’m going to get with Brian in the next week or two to come up with a game plan,” Faucheux said.
Faucheux said one option at Fair Grounds ahead of Louisiana Champions Day is the Heitai for Louisiana-breds.
“The Heitai fell on opening day last year, then there’s Champions Day three weeks after that,” Faucheux said.
Faucheux said before then there are limited Louisianabred stakes options and that could necessitate a fall trip out of state to perhaps Kentucky, Arlington Park, or Remington Park.
“I want to keep him winning, find reasonable spots for him,” Faucheux said. “I don’t think we need to go try to run against major open-company contenders at this point. It’s a possibility we will down the road. I’d like to keep him against statebreds.”
Monte Man is undefeated against Louisiana-breds. He was a $25,000 claim last fall at Belmont Park and upon returning to his home state of Louisiana has been unbeatable. Among his wins are four statebred stakes in his last four starts. He is a son of Custom for Carlos and a half-brother to four-time stakes winner Grand Facile, who started her career at Louisiana Downs.
Special Rockstar to Remington
Special Rockstar, who won the $50,000 Fiesta Mile for Texas-bred fillies and mares for the second year in a row Saturday night at Retama Park near San Antonio, is now headed to Remington Park. Trainer Mindy Willis said the mare is a candidate for the $75,000 Ricks Memorial at the Oklahoma City track Sept. 30.
“She deserves a shot at that,” Willis said. “We’ll maybe have a couple of races up there and then give her a break and get her ready for Sam Houston.” Special Rockstar is one of six horses Willis has shipped in for races at Retama. Her base this fall will be Remington.
Willis will see action in the Wednesday night feature with Volley Molly, who starts in an optional $20,000 claiming race that carries first-level allowance conditions. It will be run over 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. The deep field includes Southern California import Joyable.
“I thought that race came up pretty tough,” Willis said.
◗ Eddie Martin, who has mounts Wednesday night at Retama, was at 3,990 career wins through Sunday, according to Equibase.