Horse Racing Roundup : Alysheba Snaps Losing Streak, Wins Super Derby VIII

Alysheba, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, snapped a three-race losing streak Sunday, coming from next-to-last early to win the $1 million Super Derby VIII at Louisiana Downs by a half-length over Candi’s Gold.

Parochial, the 60-1 pacesetter, held on to finish third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Candi’s Gold. The Charlie Whittingham-trained Temperate Sil finished fourth, another 3 3/4 lengths back.

Alysheba’s victory, under Chris McCarron, was his first since he took the Preakness, second leg of the Triple Crown, over Bet Twice. In between, the Alydar colt finished fourth in the Belmont Stakes, second in the Haskell Invitational and sixth in the Travers Stakes.

The Super Derby also marked the first race since the Preakness in which Alysheba received the anti-bleeding drug Lasix. Trainer Jack Van Berg has insisted, however, that the use of the drug is only precautionary and stems from a slight bleeding episode Alysheba suffered just before throat surgery last spring.

Alysheba finished the mile-and-a-quarter race in 2:03 1/5, well off Gate Dancer’s track and stakes record of 2:00 1/5.

He returned $3, $2.40 and $2.40 as the 1-2 favorite of the crowd of 25,149. The $600,000 first-prize purse pushed Alysheba’s career earnings for Dorothy and Pamela Scharbauer to $2.19 million.

Candi’s Gold, ridden by Gary Stevens, paid $4.40 and $3.40, and Parochial, with Herb McCauley up, returned $8.20.

Coup De Fusil was declared the winner of the $249,600 Ruffian Handicap at Belmont Park when Sacahuista was disqualified after finishing first and was placed third.

Ridden by Angel Cordero Jr., Tartan Stable’s Coup De Fusil was impeded nearing the wire by Sacahuista, ridden by Richard Migliore.

The winner, second-place Clabber Girl, Sacahuista and Without Feathers, all members of a six-horse entry, swept the top four places in the 1 1/8-mile event for fillies and mares 3 years old and up.

Sacahuista led all the way but was disqualified for bearing in and impeding both Coup De Fusil and Clabber Girl in the stretch.

Coup De Fusil’s winning time was 1:48 3/5 on a fast track. She earned $149,760 and returned $2.80, $2.20, $2.10, as did her entrymates.