Fantasticat Collects Super Derby Upset

An invader won Saturday’s $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, but it wasn’t either one of the favored shippers from Southern California.

Fantasticat, who’s stabled at Churchill Downs, sprung a 14-1 upset at the track in Bossier City, La., holding off Hollywood Park-based Borrego in the stretch to win the 1 1/8 -mile race by half a length. Britt’s Jules finished third and Imperialism, who came in from Santa Anita, was fourth, beaten by almost six lengths. Imperialism and Borrego each went off at 2-1, with Imperialism the slight favorite.

Fantasticat, ridden by Gerard Melancon, paid $31.40, hitting the wire in 1:51 2/5 over a muddy track. Melancon brought Fantasticat off the rail as he passed the faltering Britt’s Jules in mid-stretch. Borrego and his jockey, Tyler Baze, couldn’t overhaul Fantasticat in the last sixteenth of a mile.

The 25th Super Derby was trainer Bobby Barnett’s biggest win since Answer Lively won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs in 1998.

“We were headquartered here for about 15 years,” Barnett said, “so it’s great to come back and win this race.”

Barnett shipped in Fantasticat to finish second, beaten by a neck, in the Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 28. Between the Prelude and Saturday’s race, Fantasticat worked out only at Churchill. South Africa, who won the 1 1/16 -mile Prelude, set the early pace in the Super Derby before finishing last in the nine-horse field.

The Super Derby was Fantasticat’s first stakes win and his third victory in 15 overall starts.

It was Borrego’s fifth second-place finish in seven winless starts this year. Borrego has earned more than $500,000 and won only two of 11 starts overall.

Imperialism, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, broke slowly and was last after half a mile. He never reached contention and staged only a mild rally in the stretch.

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