Louisiana Downs: Cox's Instant Replay leads Super Derby field

Louisiana Downs will host its richest race of the season Saturday with the $250,000 Super Derby. The prestigious event, first contested in 1980, has long been the crown jewel of the track’s Thoroughbred season and will highlight an eight-race card. First post is 4:35 p.m. EDT, with the Super Derby scheduled as the seventh race at 7:36 pm.

Leading the field is Instant Replay, the 6-5 morning-line favorite trained by North America’s leading conditioner Brad Cox. A proven stakes winner, Instant Replay captured the Texas Derby at Lone Star Park and the Bathhouse Row Stakes at Oaklawn earlier this year before finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby. He will break from post position three under Louisiana’s own Tim Thornton.

Super Derby fair odds: Pace edge favors 1 contender

The second choice at 2-1 is Rolando, who enters off a sharp victory in the Petramalo Mile Stakes at Colonial Downs on Aug. 9. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Rolando has won three of five starts this year and will break from post position 6 with top local rider Alexander Castillo aboard.

Adding to the intrigue is Fountain Lake, trained by John Ortiz, who will look to give prominent owner John Ed Anthony his first Super Derby victory since his champion runner Temperence Hill captured the inaugural edition in 1980 while racing under the Loblolly Stable banner. Fountain Lake, who races in the name of Anthony’s Shortleaf Stable, will be ridden by Isaac Castillo from the rail.