# 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 1+1⁄8 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 1+1⁄4 miles, but in 2002 the distance was reduced to 1+1⁄8 miles (the exception being 2005 when the distance reverted to 1+1⁄4 miles). In 2017 the distance was set at 1+1⁄16 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
* 1+1⁄8 miles – 2002–2004, 2006–2016, 2023 - present
* 1+1⁄4 miles – 1980–2001, 2005
* 1+1⁄16 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 1+1⁄8 miles)
* 1:59.84 – Tiznow (2000) (at 1+1⁄4 miles)
* 1:42.91 – Mr. Misunderstood (2017) (at 1+1⁄16 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 | Time |
| 2023 | Big Data | Emisael Jaramillo | Michael Lerman | Petal Power Racing Stable | 1:51.83 |
| 2019 | Rotation | Richard Eramia | Steve Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1:43.70 |
| 2018 | Limation | Diego Saenz | Steve Asmussen | Michael Langford | 1:43.91 |
| 2017 † | Mr. Misunderstood | Chris Rosier | Brad H. Cox | Flurry Racing Stables LLC | 1:42.91 |
| 2016 | Texas Chrome | Charles J. McMahon | J. R. Caldwell | Keene Thoroughbreds | 1:49.87 |
| 2015 | Mobile Bay | Edgar S. Prado | Victor Arceneaux | Tigertail Ranch | 1:50.83 |
| 2014 | Vicar's in Trouble | Rosie Napravnik | Michael Maker | Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey | 1:50.38 |
| 2013 | Departing | Robby Albarado | Albert Stall Jr. | Claiborne Farm/Dilschneider | 1:50.08 |
| 2012 | Bourbon Courage | Leandro R. Goncalves | Kellyn Gorder | Bourbon Lane Stable/Lynn | 1:51.40 |
| 2011 | Prayer for Relief | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables | 1:52.29 |
| 2010 | Apart | Jesse M. Campbell | Albert Stall Jr. | Adele B. Dilschneider | 1:52.31 |
| 2009 | Regal Ransom | Richard Migliore | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Stables | 1:49.63 |
| 2008 | My Pal Charlie | Curt Bourque | Albert Stall Jr. | B. Wayne Hughes | 1:48.36 |
| 2007 | Going Ballistic | Cliff Berry | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Kindred Thoroughbreds LLC | 1:50.32 |
| 2006 | Strong Contender | Robby Albarado | John T. Ward, Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1:48.60 |
| 2005 | The Daddy | Pablo Morales | Salvador Gonzalez | Greg Norman | 2:03.15 |
| 2004 | Fantasticat | Gerard Melancon | Bobby C. Barnett | R Bar S Thoroughbreds | 1:51.40 |
| 2003 | Ten Most Wanted | Pat Day | Wallace Dollase | J. Paul Reddam et al. | 1:50.77 |
| 2002 | Essence of Dubai | Jorge F. Chavez | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 1:49.43 |
| 2001 | Outofthebox | Lonnie Meche | Bernard S. Flint | Richard Klein et al. | 2:06.20 |
| 2000 | Tiznow | Chris McCarron | Jay M. Robbins | M. Cooper & C. Straub-Rubens | 1:59.84 |
| 1999 | Ecton Park | Alex Solis | W. Elliott Walden | Mark H. Stanley | 2:00.59 |
| 1998 | Arch | Corey Nakatani | Frank L. Brothers | Claiborne & A. B.Dilschneider | 2:01.20 |
| 1997 | Deputy Commander | Chris McCarron | Wallace Dollase | Horizon Stable | 2:01.20 |
| 1996 | Editor's Note | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 2:02.10 |
| 1995 | Mecke | Jerry Bailey | Emanuel Tortora | James Lewis Jr. | 2:00.10 |
| 1994 | Soul of the Matter | Kent Desormeaux | Richard Mandella | Burt Bacharach | 2:03.20 |
| 1993 | Wallenda | Herb McCauley | Frank A. Alexander | Dogwood Stable | 2:02.30 |
| 1992 | Senor Tomas | Aaron Gryder | Peter M. Vestal | Thomas Carey | 2:04.00 |
| 1991 | Free Spirit's Joy | Calvin Borel | Clarence Picou | John Lane et al. | 2:00.40 |
| 1990 | Home At Last | Jerry Bailey | Carl Nafzger | R. L. Reineman Stables | 2:02.00 |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | Pat Valenzuela | Charlie Whittingham | H-G-W Partners | 2:03.10 |
| 1988 | Seeking The Gold | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 2:03.40 |
| 1987 | Alysheba | Chris McCarron | Jack Van Berg | Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer | 2:03.10 |
| 1986 | Wise Times | Eddie Maple | Phil Gleaves | R. L. Reineman Stables | 2:04.00 |
| 1985 | Creme Fraiche | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Brushwood Stables | 2:02.40 |
| 1984 | Gate Dancer | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Jack Van Berg | Kenneth Opstein | 2:00.10 |
| 1983 | Sunny's Halo | Laffit Pincay Jr. | David C. Cross Jr. | David J. Foster Stable | 2:01.30 |
| 1982 | Reinvested | Jorge Velásquez | Lefty Nickerson | Harbor View Farm | 2:01.30 |
| 1981 | Island Whirl | Laffit Pincay Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Elcee-H Stable | 2:03.10 |
| 1980 | Temperence Hill | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | Loblolly Stable | 2:06.30 |
* † Race run on turf.