Super Derby berth up for grabs

Mr Money Bags has been based at Louisiana Downs since the spring, but will be racing over the Bossier City, La., surface for the first time Saturday, when he seeks to lock up a Super Derby berth in the $60,000 Prelude Stakes.

“He acts like he really handles the track very well,” said trainer Mike Neatherlin.

The Prelude, for 3-year-olds at a mile and a sixteenth, will reward its first four finishers with a fees-paid berth into the Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby on Sept. 7. It’s a perk worth about $2,500.

A field of seven has signed on for the Prelude, including Leader of Men, who is seeking his fourth straight win at the meet, and Rotation, a halfbrother to Grade 2 winner Tapiture.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mr Money Bags, by Silver City Last 3 Beyers: 80-93-42

◗ He’s been settled in at Louisiana Downs since April, coming to town after a winter in which he won a pair of restricted sprint stakes at Sam Houston Race Park by a combined margin of 18 1/2 lengths, the first in February and the second in March.

◗ Added another restricted stakes win June 1 at Lone Star Park. He stretched out to two turns for a division of the Texas Stallion Stakes and rolled by 11 1/2 lengths. Following the start, Neatherlin said he and Roy Cobb, the horse’s breeder and owner, set a goal of making the Super Derby at home at Louisiana Downs.

“That’s kind of the plan,” Neeatherlin said. “It depends on how he runs and how he comes out of it. He’s training really well.”

◗ Mr Money Bags last raced July 5 and finished a close sixth in the $250,000 Iowa Derby. He traveled from Louisiana Downs to Prairie Meadows and the ship ended up being a demanding one, said Neatherlin.

“He didn’t take that trip [well], kind of lost weight,” Neatherlinn said. “It was really hot going there. He’s pretty happy right now, put all his weight back on.”

◗ Neatherlin said the frontrunning Mr Money Bags found himself farther off the pace than expected in the Iowa Derby after stumbling at the start. The horse was one of the top choices at 3-1.

“He stumbled pretty good,” Neatherlin said. “It kind of took him out of his race.”

◗ Mr Money Bags on Saturday will break from post 3 under Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez. Valdez-Jiminez is 3 for 3 on Mr Money Bags, all in stakes wins in Texas.

Leader of Men, by War Front Last 3 Beyers: 75-75-60

◗ He’s run through his conditions in short order this meet at Louisiana Downs. He won a maiden special weight route on the turf May 6, an entry-level allowance route on the main track May 27, and a secondlevel allowance route on dirt in his last start July 8. The scores all came over older rivals.

◗ Leader of Men, who makes his stakes debut Saturday, is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winners Hoppertunity and Executiveprivilege.

◗ Hector Del-Cid has the mount from the rail for Walpole Racing and trainer Jodie Hodges.