Bodog Beat

With Colonel John and Mambo out of the Super Derby Macho Again is now among the favorites to win. (AP Images)

Saturday, Sept. 20 marks the 29th running of the $500,000 Gr. 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana. This 9-furlong dirt race for 3-year-olds is a prep race for the Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run in October at Santa Anita Park. And with Travers Stakes one-two finishers Colonel John and Mambo in Seattle having bowed out of the Super Derby competition, this year's trophy could go to anyone.

Highly regarded Macho Again is coming off a rough trip in the $1M Gr. 1 Travers Stakes in August, finishing eighth after being bounced around during the stretch run. But against Grade 2 competition in the Jim Dandy Stakes in July, he was much the best, holding off a game Pyro in the final lengths to win. Kent Desormeaux is expected to get the mount.

The Super Derby will also feature a rematch between the top three finishers from the $100,000 Prelude Breeders' Cup at Louisiana Downs in August. Star Production won his way into the Super Derby after he was deemed the winner in a three-way photo finish. The James Hodges-trained 3-year-old will be ridden by Carlos Gonzalez. Runner-up Numismatist will go under Cliff Berry for trainer Donnie Von Hemel. And Golden Yank, the Gary Thomas-trained place horse, will be ridden by Jamie Theriot.

Other nominees include Real Appeal, winner of the Alysheba Stakes at Lone Star Park in June; Forest Command, who will be making his stakes debut; and Mambo Meister, a two-time winner at Calder Race Course.

Bet on horse racing at the Bodog Racebook.