by Jarrod Horak

The Super Derby is upon us once again, and it harkens me back to my humble handicapping beginnings.

The Louisiana Downs fixture was first run in 1980, the same year I started attending the races as a young lad in Maryland. That year’s Belmont Stakes winner Temperence Hill nabbed the inaugural edition, and other past American Classic heroes have won this event as well, including Sunny’s Halo, Gate Dancer, Creme Fraiche, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, and Editor’s Note.

Perhaps the biggest name to capture this race in recent memory is two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow. The late blooming three-year-old of 2000 was just beginning to rise to national prominence after his victory in the Super Derby, and we may have a similar situation with Grasshopper in 2007.

The Neil Howard charge burst onto the national scene when giving 2006 juvenile champion and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense all he could handle in the Travers Stakes. The vastly improved colt has really come into his own over a route of ground in his last two races, and his connections could have Breeders’ Cup Classic dreams dancing in their heads.

Grasshopper must first defeat nine other sophomores with similar aspirations. Forty Acres likes Louisiana Downs and smartly won the local Super Derby prep race, leaving Steve Asmussen’s Beta Capo in his wake. Leonnatus Anteas, the two-year-old champion from Canada, is a Polytrack and turf specialist. Going Ballistic is a consistent turf stakes performer, and Past The Point is lightly raced and owns a nice pedigree. Point Gold, Cajun Conquest, Strong City and Tortuga Straits round out the field.

Grasshopper has a long way to go to match the accomplishments of Tiznow and many other past Super Derby winners, but a victory on Saturday would be a huge step in the right direction.

Mr. Horak is a guest handicapper for Nostalgic Horse. He has been handicapping horses regularly for racingonthenet.com since the late nineties. He was also a contributor for Fast Track horse racing radio show for several years and recently has started a Myspace page devoted to handicapping.