Texas Chrome fights off Dalmore to win the Super Derby

Some horses just know their way to the winner’s circle. Today at Louisiana Downs, Texas Chrome picked a great moment to remind us all of that fact. Digging down deep under heavy pressure from Dalmore, the Texas-bred son of Grasshopper simply would not be denied on his way to a hard-fought, half-length victory in the $400,000 Super Derby.

Sent off as the 2-1 third choice in the field of seven, Keene Thoroughbreds’ Texas Chrome was able to find a comfortable stalking position early under rider C.J. McMahon. The early pace was set forth by the 9-5 second choice, Dalmore, who was making his first start since finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic. Meanwhile, the 8-5 favorite, Mo Tom, lingered at the back of the pack.

As expected, the Super Derby pace was not a fast one. Dalmore continued down the Louisiana Downs’ backstretch through tepid opening splits of :24.59 and :49.13. Mending Fences and Whateverybodywants kept him company, while Texas Chrome was not too much farther back in fourth.

The pace quickened as the field approached the far turn, and a swarm of horses moved in on Dalmore, including Mo Tom, who was now within two lengths of the leader. That would be about all we would see from the favorite, though, as he had little left for the final quarter mile. Texas Chrome, with little prodding from his rider, smoothly split horses and engaged Dalmore at the top of the stretch. Whateverybodywants kept trying on the outside, but the race would come down to Texas Chrome and Dalmore.

Dalmore, under Kent Desormeaux, had something left for the challenge of Texas Chrome to his inside and came right back at him in midstretch. With both riders asking everything of their mounts, a good old fashioned stretch duel for the top prize arose, as the pair of stakes winners battled down the lane. Try as Dalmore did, Texas Chrome wanted to get to that wire in first just a little bit more. Whateverybodywants finished strongly to get within three-quarters of a length of the second-place Dalmore on the wire. Mo Tom could only manage a disappointing fifth-place finish, behind Mending Fences.

Final time for the nine furlongs over the fast main track at Louisiana Downs was a very solid 1:49.87, especially given the slow early fractions. It was the fastest edition of the Super Derby in seven years.

Runner-up to the highly regarded American Freedom in the Iowa Derby two starts back, Texas Chrome came into the Super Derby off a score in the Prelude Stakes, the local prep to the Super Derby. With the victory, the bay colt raised his career record to an excellent 12-7-1-3 for trainer J.R. Caldwell, with earnings eclipsing $600,000.

As the third choice, Texas Chrome returned $6.20, $3.00, and $2.60 across the board. The 5-6 exacta over Dalmore was good for $17.00, and the trifecta which included the fourth choice, Whateverybodywants, paid $60.60.