Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby promises to have a major impact on this year’s Triple Crown series as a major steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. It’s the longest prep race in the United States at 1-3/16 miles and the fourth in New Orleans this season dating back to the Gun Runner in December, Lecomte in January and Risen Star in February.
The Louisiana Derby will be part of a $25,000 Exacta-Thon promotion at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet that challenges players to hit winning exactas in 6 of the 12 races on the Fair Grounds card.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Louisiana Derby (Race 12):
#1-TRIPLE ESPRESSO: Gulfstream winter turf performer will make his first start on dirt after a fourth-place effort in the Colonel Liam Stakes 3 weeks ago. Sire Omaha Beach won the ’19 Rebel and Arkansas Derby on dirt. Trainer Todd Pletcher won this race last year with Kingsbarns, his record fifth Louisiana Derby score.
#2-HALL OF FAME: Smashing maiden winner on the Lecomte undercard was expected to contend in the Risen Star, but had a difficult trip that day and faltered to seventh. $1.4 million son of 2016 Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner draws well and will be expected to use more early speed Saturday. Trainer Steve Asmussen has 4 Louisiana Derby wins, 1 short of Todd Pletcher’s race record.
#3-ANTIQUARIAN: Florida-based colt makes his second road trip to New Orleans after a Risen Star Day undercard maiden victory. Matches Tuscan Gold as the most lightly raced runner in the field with 2 prior starts. Trainer Todd Pletcher won this race last year with Kingsbarns, his record fifth Louisiana Derby score. Jockey John Velazquez won this race in 2007 aboard Circular Quay and 2018 on Noble Indy, both for Pletcher.
#4-AGATE ROAD: Cross-entered in Saturday’s Jeff Ruby at Turfway Park. Sam F. Davis Stakes runner-up bypassed a return trip from the 1-1/16 miles Tampa Bay Derby for a longer distance. Note that Davis winner No More Time came back to run second in that series finale. Son of dirt specialist Quality Road has been effective on turf and dirt. Trainer Todd Pletcher won this race last year with Kingsbarns, his record fifth Louisiana Derby score. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. returns to the saddle after a 1-race absence.
#5-CATCHING FREEDOM: Risen Star third-place finisher had won Oaklawn’s Southwest prior in visually impressive style. Must make up 1-1/4 lengths on Louisiana Derby rival Track Phantom from their last match-up. Jockey Flavien Prat takes the controls for the first time, and he seeks back-to-back Louisiana Derby wins after guiding Kingsbarns a year ago. Trainer Brad Cox won this race in 2020 with Wells Bayou.
#6-AWESOME RUTA: Sixth in the Risen Star at 222-1 odds, splitting the field that day in his first stakes route attempt. He’ll be a big price again for trainer Joseph Foster and return jockey Mitchell Murrill. Has run some of his better races on wet tracks.
#7-HONOR MARIE: Closed from 11th to fifth in the Risen Star while making his first start since winning November’s Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. Slow pace last time did not help his style and he’ll appreciate if the tempo quickens Saturday. He has to make up nearly 6 lengths on Track Phantom from last time, trainer Whit Beckman changes riders from Rafael Bejarano to Irish jockey Ben Curtis.
#8-NEXT LEVEL: Well-beaten eight in Oaklawn’s Rebel at 48-1 odds, he’ll be a longshot for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso’s only win in 8 starts did come over this track in a November maiden race, but he’s been beaten 11-1/2, 23, 32-1/4 and 13 lengths in his 4 stakes attempts to date.
#9-REAL MEN VIOLIN: Runner-up to Honor Marie in last fall’s Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, he similarly returned for his sophomore unveiling with an unplaced effort in the Risen Star. Solid morning worker has continued to train forwardly in hopes of improvement after some traffic issues last time. Trainer Kenny McPeek won this race in 2002 with Repent.
#10-COMMON DEFENSE: Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes runner-up behind highly regarded prospect Timberlake, he’ll change venues for the first time after 4 starts in Hot Springs. Only poor effort came on a wet track in the Southwest, so he’ll likely prefer it dry Saturday. Trainer Kenny McPeek won this race in 2002 with Repent. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. won the 2017 Louisiana Derby aboard Girvin.
#11-TUSCAN GOLD: Trainer Chad Brown won the Risen Star with Sierra Leone and looks for back-to-back Florida invasions to win the final two legs of the Fair Grounds prep series. Romped by more than 6 lengths in a Gulfstream allowance, following up his November debut fourth to his aforementioned stablemate, who is currently the Kentucky Derby favorite. Well-bred son of 2002 Belmont Stakes runner-up Medaglia d’Oro and the mare Valadorna, a multiple stakes winner who boasted a strong 4: 2-1-1 record at Fair Grounds, winning the Tiffany Lass.
#12-TRACK PHANTOM: A half-length runner-up in the Risen Star, he’s already won the Gun Runner (pictured above) and Lecomte this Fair Grounds season. In 4 preps this winter at Fair Grounds, he’s had exactly 1 horse drawn outside of him in the entire series, once again taking the worst of the post-position draw. Trainer Steve Asmussen has 4 Louisiana Derby wins, 1 short of Todd Pletcher’s race record. Jockey Joel Rosario seeks a third win in the past 4 editions of this race, capturing 2021 aboard Hot Rod Charlie and 2022 on Epicenter, the latter for Asmussen.
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