Horse Racing Roundup : Seeking the Gold Wins Super Derby

Favored Seeking the Gold, ridden by Pat Day, defeated longshot Happyasalark Tomas by a neck Sunday to win the $1-million Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

Seeking the Gold broke quickly and then settled in second place before making a move in the stretch. He covered the 1 miles in 2:03 4/5.

Lively One, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, was troubled by traffic until the stretch, then closed quickly for third. Private Terms, the second betting choice in the nine-horse field, was fourth, 10 lengths back.

Seeking the Gold’s seventh career victory in 12 starts was worth $600,000. He returned $3.40, $2.80 and $2.80. Happyasalark Tomas, ridden by Calvin Borel, paid $7.80 and $3.60 to place, and Lively One paid $3.40 to show.

The victory, after consecutive losses to Forty Niner by margins of a nose in the Haskell and the Travers, increased Seeking the Gold’s career earnings to $1.47 million.

“We came out of it good and will go on to the Breeders’ Cup (Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs) without another race,” trainer Shug McGaughey said.

Sham Say took over in the stretch Sunday and went on to a three-quarter-length victory over Classic Crown in the $244,000 Ruffian Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Belmont Park.

Classic Crown was coupled in the wagering with Sacahuista and Clabber Girl as the D. Wayne Lukas-trained entry in the field of 11 and finished 6 lengths ahead of Make Change.

Sham Say, a Maryland-bred 3-year-old daughter of Oh Say-Sham Bee, covered the 1 1/8-mile course over a fast track in 1:48 to register her third win of the year in five starts.

Sham Say earned $146,400 for Evergreen Farms.