Departing heavy favorite for Super Derby

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Bossier City, LA (Sports Network) - West Virginia Derby winner Departing is the even-money favorite for Saturday's $500,000 Super Derby for 3-year-olds at Louisiana Downs.

Trained by Al Stall Jr., Departing will be reunited with jockey Robby Albarado for the 1 1/8-mile race and start from the far outside post in the seven-horse field. Albarado previously won the Super Derby in 2006 aboard Strong Contender.

Departing, owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, was himself a strong contender for this year's Triple Crown races.

The gelding began 2013 with an allowance win at Fair Grounds and a stakes victory at Sam Houston Park. He was third behind Revolutionary in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and won the Illinois Derby as the 19-10 favorite.

The West Virginia Derby was his first start since finishing sixth to Oxbow in the Preakness Stakes.

Departing has banked just over a $1 million in seven lifetime starts with five wins.

The 7-2 second pick is Bashaar, owned by Shadwell Stable and trained by Dan Peitz. The colt will break from the inside post with Channing Hill riding.

Bashaar was second in the Prairie Mile at Prairie Meadows on June 1 followed by a third in the Iowa Derby at the track on June 29 and four weeks later finished fourth to Palace Malice in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.

The colt has won twice in nine careers for $136,182.

Ruler of Love is back to take on Departing after finishing second in the West Virginia Derby. Listed as the 6-1 third choice, Ruler of Love will be ridden by Scott Spieth from post 5.

Trained by Joan Scott, the colt was third in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs and seventh at Indiana Downs in the Centaur Stakes. In July, he came back with a third in the Coach Jimi Lee Stakes at Arlington Park and was runner-up to Departing at Mountaineer Park.

Ruler of Love is a two-time winner in 11 career starts for $253,875.

Here is the full field for the 34th Super Derby: Bashaar, Channing Hill, 7-2; Holiday Mischief, Cliff Berry, 10-1; Runaway Stephen, Chris Rosier, 20-1; Treasury Bill, Richard Eramia, 10-1; Ruler of Love, Scott Spieth, 6-1; Cameo Appearance, Patrick Valenzuela, 8-1; and Departing, Robby Albarado, even.

The Super Derby has an approximate post-time of 6:15 p.m. (ET).