On Saturday Fair Grounds hosts its fourth and final qualifying points race for the Kentucky Derby.
Ten 3-year-olds have been entered for the $1 million dollar, Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
The top five finishers in the contest will earn Derby points, distributed on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.
At a distance of 1 3/16 miles the Louisiana Derby is the longest North American qualifying race for the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby.
Five horses have exited the Louisiana Derby and moved on to Win the Run For The Roses.
Here then, is brief look at the field for the 112th edition of the Louisiana Derby:
1. JOHN HANCOCK [ML 7-2] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Brad Cox. He beat OWEN ALMIGHTY by a half-length in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. That Win seems even more impressive now that OWEN ALMIGHTY came back to romp to Victory in the Tampa Bay Derby. JOHN HANCOCK seems capable enough to improve on his already impressive form in just his third career start Saturday.
2. CHUNK OF GOLD [ML 8-1] Jockey: Jareth Loveberry. Trainer: Ethan West. He’s looking to improve on his late-running 2nd-place finish last month on this track in the Risen Star and secure at least a third-place finish in the Louisiana Derby. He’ll need to improve off the Risen Star effort to have any chance at an upset in the Louisiana Derby, but by grabbing 3rd and 25 more points he would seem to be in a good qualifying position to run on the first Saturday in May.
3. TIZTASTIC [ML 8-1] Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: Steve Asmussen. In four consecutive starts he has earned qualifying points without Winning. As yet, he has not shown enough of a late kick to do more than nab minor awards against the best of his age group, which does, however, make him more suitable to use in exacta and trifecta bets than as a possible upset candidate. He’ll be ridden by Rosario for the first time, and the Hall of Fame jockey has had recent success in the Louisiana Derby, Winning both in 2021 and 2022.
4. YINZER [ML 12-1] Jockey: Ben Curtis. Trainer: Steve Asmussen. He makes his Stakes debut here, after three consecutive starts at Fairgrounds– finishing 5th two times and then breaking through by Winning a 1-1/16th-mile Maiden by two lengths. He’s stepping up in class, but YINZER figures to press early and ensure a fast pace, setting things up for those that await off the pace.
5. CALDERA [ML 5-1] Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione. Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas. In his last out this good-looking gray colt was 2nd by a nose in the 1 1/16-mile Sunland Derby. That race was his 4th career start and first since he posted a front-running, 5 ½-length Victory in a 1 1/16-mile Maiden race at Oaklawn Park in mid-January. CALDERA improved his Equibase Speed Figure from a 93 in that Oaklawn Win to a 100 in the Sunland Derby, a similar jump Saturday could put him in the Fair Grounds Winner’s Circle and then send him off to Louisville.
6. BUILT [ML 9-2] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Wayne Catalano. He finished 9 ¾ lengths behind the Winner in his last out, yet BUILT profiles as a leading Win contender in the Louisiana Derby. He took to Fair Grounds’ dirt track very when shipped south from Kentucky over the winter, easily winning the 1 1/16-mile Gun Runner Stakes in late December and then finishing 2nd by a neck to in the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte Stakes in mid-January. This HARD SPUN colt has shown enough talent in his young career to rebound with a solid effort Saturday. Ortiz, who is having a very good meet riding regularly at Fair Grounds for the first time, takes the reins for the first time.
7. VASSIMO [ML 12-1] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. The son of Kentucky Derby Winner NYQUIST finished first in both starts prior to making his Stakes debut in the Risen Star. In the Risen Star he finished 4th in a 12-horse field, albeit 12 ½ lengths behind the Winner. With a more contested pace up front, VASSIMO can make up a lot of that ground in the Louisiana Derby at what should be solid Post-Time odds for trainer Pletcher, who has Won this race a record five times.
8. FURIO [ML 12-1] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Joe Sharp. Another making his stakes debut in the Louisiana Derby, and he projects to be one of two or three horses that will duel for the early lead. In his 3-year-old debut in January at Fair Grounds running six furlongs, FURIO broke in front and Won with ease by four lengths. He then tried two turns for the first time in February at Fair Grounds in a 1 1/16-mile Allowance-optional claiming race, and gave up the lead in early stretch to finish 2nd. He would need to run the race of his young career to have any chance at pulling the upset here.
9. INSTANT REPLAY [ML 6-1] Jockey: Florent Geroux. Trainer: Brad Cox. His recent Win at Fair Grounds was his first around two turns, and INSTANT REPLAY seemed to appreciate the layout, earning a 100 Equibase Speed Figure. Geroux has been up for all this colts races and retains the mount Saturday. On paper there seems enough speed horses in Saturday’s race to ensure a fast pace, which could set things up perfectly for this colt making his first appearance in a Stakes race.
10. HYPNUS [ML 12-1] Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Trainer: Ken McPeek. He Won his first career start at Fairgrounds in January. Next out HYPNUS didn’t fire when aggressively moved up to start in the Rebel Stakes February 23rd at Oaklawn Park– finishing 7th of 13. This son of top sire INTO MISCHIEF out of a Grade 1-Winning mare is just starting his career and could show rapid improvement in his third career start as young horses often do.
The Louisiana Derby is slated as the last race of the day on a card of 12 with a scheduled Post Time of 6:45.
Best of luck however you play it.
