The first two 100-point preps on the Road to the Kentucky Derby take place Saturday with Fair Grounds’ Louisiana Derby and Turfway’s Jeff Ruby. These two locales have had much impact on recent editions of the Run for the Roses, including recent winners like Rich Strike and Mandaloun as well as four straight runners-up who performed at Fair Grounds or Turfway – Sierra Leone, Two Phil’s, Epicenter and Hot Rod Charlie.
Let’s Meet the Contenders for the Race 12 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds:
#1-JOHN HANCOCK: 2-for-2 after winning the Sam F. Davis Stakes, a race that was flattered when runner-up Owen Almighty returned to win the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby. Front-running colt by Constitution figures to provide inside speed. Trainer Brad Cox won this race last year with Catching Freedom as well as with Wells Bayou in 2020. Jockey Flavien Prat seeks a Louisiana Derby 3-peat following Kingsbarns (2023) and Catching Freedom (2024).
#2-CHUNK OF GOLD: Turfway-based colt makes his second trip to Fair Grounds on the campaign, following a rallying runner-up in the Grade 2 Risen Star at 43-1 odds. Jockey Jareth Loveberry gets the return call on the Preservationist bargain ($2,500 purchase price) for trainer Ethan West. Owns a maiden win and 2 stakes seconds in 3 starts.
#3-TIZTASTIC: Late-running Oaklawn stakes veteran switches venues to Fair Grounds for the first time. Son of Belmont winner Tiz the Law owns a grass stakes win at Kentucky Downs on a 2-for-7 ledger. Trainer Steve Asmussen captured this race on 4 occasions, most recently Epicenter in 2022. Joel Rosario was aboard Epicenter and also won this race in 2021 with Hot Rod Charlie.
#4-YINZER: $1 million Twirling Candy colt took 4 tries to break his maiden, but did so Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds at 11-1 odds. Early speed counterpoint to late-running barnmate Tiztastic. Trainer Steve Asmussen captured this race on 4 occasions, most recently Epicenter in 2022.
#5-CALDERA: Nose runner-up in the Sunland Derby for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who is looking to punch his second Derby ticket in 7 days after American Promise’s Virginia Derby victory at Colonial Downs. That VA Derby may be telling for Caldera in another way as Sunland Derby winner and race favorite Getaway Car disappointed with a fourth-place return effort. Caldera is 1-for-4 lifetime and pairs with jockey Tyler Gaffalione for the first time.
#6-BUILT (pictured): The only horse to run in all 4 legs of the Louisiana Derby series, he won the Gun Runner, finished second in the Lecomte and third in the Risen Star. Trainer Wayne Catalano changes jockeys to the meet’s runaway leading rider Jose Ortiz and adds blinkers for the first time. Built is by 2007 Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun, who won that season’s Lecomte at Fair Grounds in his only local bid.
#7-VASSIMO: Blinkers go on the distant fourth-place finisher in the Risen Star Stakes, who looks to make up about 3 lengths on Chunk of Gold and Built. Tampa allowance winner by 2016 Kentucky Derby champ Nyquist. Trainer Todd Pletcher has 5 Louisiana Derby wins, most recently Kingsbarns in 2023. Irad Ortiz Jr. gets the return mount. Ortiz has sent his mount to the lead 4 straight Saturdays in major Kentucky Derby preps but would seem unlikely to do so here.
#8-FURIO: Speedster has made the lead in all 3 starts to date and under hustling rider Luis Saez expected to contest the front again. Only victory came over 6 furlongs and exits a no-match second to Louisiana Derby return rival Instant Replay in a local allowance. Joe Sharp trains the McKinzie colt.
#9-INSTANT REPLAY: Capitalized on a fast set-up Feb. 17 for a sharp 5-length allowance victory, earning a chance at his first stakes. Home-bred son of 2019 disqualified Kentucky Derby winner Maximum Security has won 2 of 5 for the same ownership (Gary and Mary West). Trainer Brad Cox won this race last year with Catching Freedom as well as with Wells Bayou in 2020. Florent Geroux seeks a third Louisiana Derby in the saddle.
#10-HYPNUS: Joins John Hancock as the most lightly raced entrants in the lineup with 2 prior starts. Fair Grounds debut winner Jan. 19 didn’t factor when seventh in Oaklawn’s Grade 2 Rebel when encountering some traffic. Trainer Kenny McPeek won this race in 2002 with Repent. Deep closer likely drops to the back of the pack from the far outside draw and hopes for a hot pace.
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Let’s Meet the Contenders for the Race 12 Jeff Ruby at Turfway:
#1-CALLING CARD: Scratched from the Virginia Derby last week in favor of this spot. Eighth in the Lecomte at Fair Grounds and seventh in the Gotham at Aqueduct, he’ll try synthetic for the first time. Trainer Mike Maker has won this race a record 6 times in the synthetic era, most recently Field Pass in 2020.
#2-CHARLIE’S TO BLAME: California-based Endlessly won this race a year ago and this Peter Eurton trainee will be making his second straight start on the road after winning the Kitten’s Joy on turf at Gulfstream. The $400,000 Blame colt has won 2 straight, including a Del Mar turf graduation under jockey Juan Hernandez, who returns to the saddle Saturday.
#3-CALIFORNIA BURRITO: Front-running winner of the John Battaglia Memorial, the local prep, gained his second win of the Turfway meeting. Tom Drury Jr. charge won a Jan. 24 TP allowance to open the year and has won 3 of 6 lifetime. Son of sprint influence Army Mule will test himself for endurance over 1-1/8 miles.
#4-FINAL GAMBIT: Feb. 19 maiden breaker for trainer Brad Cox pairs once again with meet leading jockey Luan Machado. Son of Not This Time takes on and stakes company for the first time. Juddmonte home-bred will race without Lasix in the Jeff Ruby.
#5-FLYING MOHAWK: Turf runner eyes a third straight score after maiden and allowance wins on grass at Churchill and Fair Grounds. Trainer Whit Beckman got to his first Kentucky Derby last year with Honor Marie (finished eighth) and looks for a return ticket via this Karakontie colt.
#6-BABY MAX: Consistent local stakes veteran adds blinkers for trainer Kelsey Danner. Won the Leonatus over a mile on Jan. 18 and then was a narrow runner-up as the 2-1 favorite in the Battaglia Memorial to return rival California Burrito. Returns to Leonatus-winning pilot Abel Cedillo on this over-achieving $20,000 purchase by Maximus Mischief.
#7-GIOCOSO: Fair Grounds-based colt for trainer Keith Desormeaux looks to find an easier spot than the same-day Louisiana Derby at home after finishing last of 12 in the Grade 2 Risen Star in New Orleans. Son of Not This Time is 2-for-7 with turf wins at Ellis and Churchill and seeks a Kentucky homecoming under last year’s Preakness-winning jockey Jaime Torres.
#8-INNOVATOR: One week after upsetting the Virginia Derby and punching a trip to Louisville with American Promise, trainer D. Wayne Lukas looks to add to his roster. Twice stakes-placed on dirt, the son of 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic looks to bounce back from a 12th of 13 finish in Oaklawn’s Rebel. Front-runner tries a synthetic surface for the first time. D. Wayne Lukas won this race twice in the dirt era (Marfa 1983, Serena’s Song 1995).
#9-POSTER: Grade 2 Remsen winner and Sam F. Davis third-place finisher is the most credential member of his year’s Jeff Ruby lineup. The Godolphin-owned Eoin Harty trainee has since seen Davis runner-up Owen Almighty return to win the Tampa Bay Derby. While he’s never raced on synthetic, he’s wintered locally at Turfway and 2-for-2 on turf. Jockey John Velazquez has won this race twice on synthetic (Went the Day Well 2012, We Miss Artie 2014).
#10-MAXIMUM PROMISE: Deep-closing Battaglia Memorial third-place finisher is by 2019 disqualified Kentucky Derby winner Maximum Security. He’s won 1 of 4 to date, tallying an Ellis Park maiden last summer by more than 14 lengths. Trainer Kenny McPeek won this race in 2022 with Tiz the Bomb. International star jockey Frankie Dettori takes the mount for the first time.
#11-CURVINO: Colt by Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso has been consistent on multiple surfaces in Southern California and at Oaklawn this winter. Trainer Peter Miller rises the 1-for-9 runner into stakes company for the first time while also making his first foray over a synthetic track. Local pilot Gerardo Corrales takes the call.
#12-HE’S NOT JOKING: Finalist for Canada’s Champion 2-Year-Old crown of 2024 (announced in April) gets back to his preferred footing on a Tapeta synthetic surface. Woodbine’s Grade 3 Grey Stakes winner and Display Stakes third-place finisher was uncompetitive on dirt in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill and Gulfstream’s Holy Bull. Ramon Hernandez rides for Jose Carroll, tasked with a difficult post position given his midpack running style.
(AE) #13-CANDYTOWN: Two-race maiden needs a scratch in order to compete. Runner-up on turf at Gulfstream and dirt at Tampa Bay Downs would be taking on winners and stakes company for the first time. Todd Pletcher trains the Speightstown home-bred for Calumet Farm.
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