Alternation, Prayer For Relief Top Super Derby

The 2011 Super Derby looks to be a an exciting renewal as well, with 9 starters making it one of the largest fields in recent years. Here are the top contenders:

1. Prayer For Relief - The Bob Baffert trainee enters the race off a gritty performance in the G2 West Virigina Derby. Prayer For Relief sat just off the pacesetter, Rush Now, then rallied in the stretch to prevail by a length. The son of Jump Start is riding a 3-race win streak that includes the Iowa Derby as well as an allowance at Hollywood Park. Bob Baffert has never saddled a Super Derby winner - could Prayer For Relief be his first?

2. Alternation -  This talented colt is always a contender, but his performance at the higest level has been up and down this year. Trainer Donnie Von Hemel changed course with the Distorted Humor colt after his 4th-place finish in the Jim Dandy, pointing for the Super Derby instead of the Travers. Von Hemel knows how to prepare a Super Derby winner, having trained 2007 winner Going Ballistic.  Alternation knows how to win big races, having scored in the Peter Pan at Belmont by a head over Adios Charlie.

3. Trubs - This son of First Samurai is the home track horse. Based at Louisiana Downs, Trubbs won the Super Derby Prelude stakes last month in rail-skimming fashion. Trainer Al Stall, Jr. has won 2 of the last 3 runnings, with a notable 2nd in 2009 - Blame. The same connections own Trubs, as well.

4. Malibu Glow - Last seen running 5th in the Travers, trainer George Weaver says the colt is still sharp and ready to run. The son of Malibu Moon is an allowance winner, but he has faced tough fields in each of his stakes tries.

5. Meistersinger - The connections of Animal Kingdom send out this steadily-improving son of Yes It's True. He enters the race off a 3rd-place finish in the Barbaro Stakes at Delaware, but before that, he'd been on a roll, taking a maiden and an allowance race. Trainer Graham Motion doesn't send horses that aren't ready to run.

Others to Watch:

Horses coming in from the Super Derby Prelude include 2nd-place finisher Populist Politics and 4th-place finisher G.W.'s D'Oro.

Awesome Bet, trained by Steve Asmussen, follows Prayer For Relief in from a 5th-place finish in West Virginia.

Mr. Woodrow is stakes-placed, running 3rd in the Groovy S. in January at Sam Houston.