September has become a productive month for 3-year-old colts owned by Arkansan Mike Langford and trained by Steve Asmussen.
Last year, Untrapped, a Kentucky Derby starter, won the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park. Sunday at Louisiana Downs, a two-time winner in Kentucky ran off with the Bossier City track's biggest race.
Limation tracked early fractions before drawing clear in the Grade 3 $300,000 Super Derby. With a winning margin of 5 3/4 lengths, the Alternation colt went a mile and sixteenth in 1:43.91 with Diego Saenz aboard for the first time.
Second to Charlie's Schiller through the first half-mile in 48.13 seconds, Limation got "the pace we wanted," said Saenz. "As far as his finish, it's like when you push the pedal and you've got gas!"
Stumping the bettors, Limation paid $54.80, $15 and $6.40, giving Hall of Famer Asmussen his first Super Derby win. Lone Sailor, eighth in the Kentucky Derby and favored Sunday, finished second by a neck over Oaklawn Park stakes winner High North. The Asmussen-trained Lionite placed fourth.
A Louisiana Downs showpiece since 1980, the Super Derby returned to dirt for its 38th running. Mr Misunderstood, owned by Staton Flurry of Hot Springs, won the only Super Derby on grass last year.
Langford, a Jonesboro contractor, paid $100,000 for Limation at a Florida sale in April 2017 and had high hopes for the colt at Oaklawn this spring. His first victory came on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs but in a maiden race following the May 5 Run for the Roses. Limation began the summer strongly with an allowance victory at Ellis Park but then finished ninth next time out in the Ellis Park Derby.
"We knew he was a talented colt and were very disappointed in his loss at Ellis," said Asmussen. "Every move we made in that race was wrong. That's why we brought him back so soon. Today, the race set up perfectly, and I am pleased for Michael Langford."
Limation's Super Derby victory compensates somewhat, Langford said, for the loss of Untrapped. The Trappe Shot colt was put down in June after developing the bone disease laminitis following a bout with colic.
"There's no making up for him. He was special," Langford said. "Steve said he was the prettiest horse he ever trained; not the best horse, just the prettiest. This plays a big part, though, in making up for that."
Langford said he was unsure of Limation's next start. Regarding the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby Sept. 30, he replied, "I don't know. I don't know. Everyone keeps asking about that race."
Sports on 09/04/2018