Uno Mas Bourbon withstood a claim of foul to become a stakes winner Saturday when he put in a determined run for a 1 1/4-length victory over The Donegal Clan in the $250,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.
It was another length back in third to Regalo.
The Super Derby was the richest race of the meet and was supported by the $50,000 Alabama Stakes won by Liken It ($5.20).
Uno Mas Bourbon ($8.20) settled in eighth in the early stages as The Donegal Clan shot to the lead from post 10. The leader doled out fractions of 23.83 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.32 for the half-mile and 1:12.92 for six furlongs. Uno Mas Bourbon launched a serious bid on the final turn, riding the rail before jockey Francisco Arrieta angled him out into the stretch.
From there, a bumping match ensued between Uno Mas Bourbon and Regalo, with the two exchanging a few bumps before Uno Mas Bourbon dug in and went after the leaders. The winner covered 1 1/8 miles on a track rated fast in 1:51.02.
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Following the race, it was announced there was a riders’ objection by Ben Curtis on Regalo against Uno Mas Bourbon and Arrieta. After a deliberation period, the stewards made no change to the order of finish.
Uno Mas Bourbon came into the Super Derby off a close third-place finish in a first-level allowance at Ellis Park. He made the race a key one Saturday, as he was the second next-out winner from the allowance behind winner Most Wanted, who came back to take the Ellis Park Derby.
“He’s a nice horse,” Arrieta said of Uno Mas Bourbon in a press release from Louisiana Downs. “When I rode him in Kentucky, I got in trouble. He took off and got tired, but still ran a great number. He was fighting me down the backstretch that day. Today, he was nice and relaxed. We got in a little tight, but when he found another gear, he took off. He ran great.”
Ian Wilkes trains Uno Mas Bourbon for Bourbon Lane Stables and Six Column Stables. The horse is by Macho Uno and he went off the favorite Saturday. Uno Mas Bourbon is now 2 for 8 for earnings of $237,175.
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