This week the Kentucky Derby Trail heads to The Fairgrounds Race Track in New Orleans, Louisiana.  It will be the 105th running of The Louisiana Derby.  It is a Grade 2 stakes race with a million dollar purse.  The winning horse also receives 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby.  A field of 10 will go a mile and an eighth over the main track.  It is race number 11 on a large card of 14 races on the day.  My top 5:

#9  MY BOY JACK.  One of the rare brother combinations in thoroughbred  horse racing.  Trained by Keith Desormeaux, and ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux.  The morning line favorite at 5-2 and rightfully so.  His average speed rating is tops in the field.  He has eight career starts and has been in the money in all but 2.  His last bad race, 3 back can be forgiven in that jockey Desormeaux lost his whip.  Could be peaking at the right time.  But at 5-2 (or lower)  I’ll try to beat him.

#7  SNAPPER SINCLAIR.  Has one lone speed figure that is faster than My Boy Jack.  The connections are good with Steve Asmussen training and jockey extraordinaire Jose Ortiz in the saddle.  Last time out on February 17 on this track he ran second to the next choice.  Six lifetime starts, only out of the money in his debut.  Watch the tout board on this one.  Morning line 9-2.

#1  BRAVAZO.  Call this the Geritol connection.  Two long time masters of their craft team up as trainer D. Wayne Lucas and rider Gary Stevens try to win their second race in a row at this track.  If you had made a $2 wager on this horse back on February 17th you would have gotten back $42.  That’s my kind of ROI.  Has raced in quality races and likes the track.  Morning line is 7-2.

#2  Noble Indy.  He was also involved in the race here February 17 and battled his way back from a bad start to finish 3rd.  This horse is ridden by Johnny Velazquez, and trained by Todd Pletcher.  This is only it’s third start, but remember what I said last week in regard to Pletcher trained horses.  Morning line is 7-2.  Don’t ignore.

#4  GIVEMEAMINIT.  This is my Live Long Shot.  Morning line of 20-1.  Trained by Dallas Stewart.  He had a bad start out of the gate here last time, but usually runs good at the Fairgrounds.  I am willing to overlook his past lack of speed, and hope that Saturday he attains triple digits.  He gets a BIG positive jockey change to Javier (JJ) Castellano.  At the very least he needs to be at the bottom of your exotic wagers.

I will be watching to see how the odds move on the 1-2-7, and key the longest odds of the three on top of the other four mentioned here in a trifecta.  I’ll bet #4 across the board.  And if #9 is destined to Win, I’ll mess around with a .10 Superfecta, keying the 9 to win with the 1-2-4-7-8 to follow in any order.  Let’s look for value and good luck !