Super Derby

The Super Derby is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually in September at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Inaugurated in 1980, the Super Derby is open to three-year-olds and the distance is miles on the dirt. It is the richest race held at Louisiana Downs. In its history, the Super Derby has attracted some of the top horses in the country including winners of all three American Classic Races.

The Super Derby was a Grade I race from 1983 to 2001. In 2002, it was downgraded to Grade II and in 2016, it was downgraded again to Grade III. It was originally run at the American classic distance of miles, but in 2002 the distance was reduced to miles (the exception being 2005 when the distance reverted to miles). In 2017 the distance was set at miles.

In summary:

In 2017, the Super Derby lost its graded status and changed surfaces from dirt to turf. "Today, there are a lot fewer 3-year-old races on the grass. We want our key race to have the best and largest field we can put out there, and making the move to the turf, there's an opportunity to have a better overall quality field", stated Trent McIntosh, the assistant general manager of Louisiana Downs. The race was later moved back to the dirt and run at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt as of 2023 miles – 2002–2004, 2006–2016, 2023 - present miles – 1980–2001, 2005 miles – 2017-2019 Dirt – 1980–2016, 2018-2019, 2023 - present Turf – 2017

The 2020 Super Derby, what was to be the 40th running, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023 the event resumed as a Black-type event.

Records Speed record: 1:48.36 – My Pal Charlie (2008) (at miles) 1:59.84 – Tiznow (2000) (at miles) 1:42.91 – Mr. Misunderstood (2017) (at miles)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Eddie Maple (1980, 1985, 1986), 3 – Laffit Pincay, Jr. (1981, 1983, 1984) 3 – Chris McCarron (1987, 1997, 2000)

Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Albert Stall Jr. (2008, 2010, 2013)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Russell L. Reineman Stables (1986, 1990)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time2025Instant ReplayTimothy ThorntonBrad H. CoxWathnan Racing1:50.782024Uno Mas BourbonFrancisco ArrietaIan WilkesBourbon Lane Stables & Six Column Stables, LLC1:51.022023Big DataEmisael JaramilloMichael LermanPetal Power Racing Stable1:51.832019Rotation Richard EramiaSteve AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds 1:43.702018LimationDiego Saenz Steve AsmussenMichael Langford1:43.912017 †Mr. Misunderstood Chris Rosier Brad H. CoxFlurry Racing Stables LLC1:42.912016Texas ChromeCharles J. McMahonJ. R. CaldwellKeene Thoroughbreds 1:49.872015Mobile BayEdgar S. PradoVictor ArceneauxTigertail Ranch1:50.832014Vicar's in TroubleRosie NapravnikMichael MakerKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey1:50.382013DepartingRobby AlbaradoAlbert Stall Jr.Claiborne Farm/Dilschneider1:50.082012Bourbon CourageLeandro R. GoncalvesKellyn GorderBourbon Lane Stable/Lynn1:51.402011Prayer for ReliefRafael BejaranoBob BaffertZayat Stables1:52.292010ApartJesse M. CampbellAlbert Stall Jr.Adele B. Dilschneider1:52.312009Regal RansomRichard MiglioreSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Stables1:49.632008My Pal CharlieCurt BourqueAlbert Stall Jr.B. Wayne Hughes1:48.362007Going BallisticCliff BerryDonnie K. Von HemelKindred Thoroughbreds LLC1:50.322006Strong ContenderRobby AlbaradoJohn T. Ward, Jr.John C. Oxley1:48.602005The DaddyPablo MoralesSalvador GonzalezGreg Norman2:03.152004FantasticatGerard MelanconBobby C. BarnettR Bar S Thoroughbreds1:51.402003Ten Most WantedPat DayWallace DollaseJ. Paul Reddam et al.1:50.772002Essence of DubaiJorge F. ChavezSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing1:49.432001OutoftheboxLonnie MecheBernard S. FlintRichard Klein et al.2:06.202000TiznowChris McCarronJay M. RobbinsM. Cooper & C. Straub-Rubens1:59.841999Ecton ParkAlex SolisW. Elliott WaldenMark H. Stanley2:00.591998ArchCorey NakataniFrank L. BrothersClaiborne & A. B.Dilschneider 2:01.201997Deputy CommanderChris McCarronWallace DollaseHorizon Stable2:01.201996Editor's NoteGary StevensD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm2:02.101995MeckeJerry BaileyEmanuel TortoraJames Lewis Jr.2:00.101994Soul of the MatterKent DesormeauxRichard MandellaBurt Bacharach2:03.201993WallendaHerb McCauleyFrank A. AlexanderDogwood Stable2:02.301992Senor TomasAaron GryderPeter M. VestalThomas Carey2:04.001991Free Spirit's JoyCalvin BorelClarence PicouJohn Lane et al.2:00.401990Home At LastJerry BaileyCarl NafzgerR. L. Reineman Stables2:02.001989Sunday SilencePat ValenzuelaCharlie WhittinghamH-G-W Partners2:03.101988Seeking The GoldPat DayC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps2:03.401987AlyshebaChris McCarronJack Van BergDorothy & Pamela Scharbauer2:03.101986Wise TimesEddie MaplePhil GleavesR. L. Reineman Stables2:04.001985Creme FraicheEddie MapleWoody StephensBrushwood Stables2:02.401984Gate DancerLaffit Pincay Jr.Jack Van BergKenneth Opstein2:00.101983Sunny's HaloLaffit Pincay Jr.David C. Cross Jr.David J. Foster Stable2:01.301982ReinvestedJorge VelásquezLefty NickersonHarbor View Farm2:01.301981Island WhirlLaffit Pincay Jr.D. Wayne LukasElcee-H Stable2:03.101980Temperence HillEddie MapleJoseph B. CanteyLoblolly Stable2:06.30

† Race run on turf.

References

Louisiana Downs site Ten Things You Should Know About the Super Derby at Hello Race Fans!