Louisiana Derby

Notes:
Like the Florida Derby, Fair Grounds signature Kentucky Derby prep awards 100-40-20-10 qualifying points and a share of a 1,000,000 purse to the top four finishers. G3 Withers Stakes hero Revolutionary is the 3/1 morning line favorite in what looks like a very competitive affair. Todd Pletcher s trainee dazzled in his maiden win and then overcame trouble to take his stakes debut. He has a knack for finding trouble, though, and that could open this up for a surprise winner, including stablemate Palace Malice. The son of Curlin has only one win in four starts, but he rallied in the prep for this, the G2 Risen Star on 2/23, to finish 3 rd only half a length behind the now-injured Ive Struck a Nerve. Pletcher stated that he expects this to be a breakthrough race for the colt. The runner up from the Risen Star, Code West, is also back and trained well at Santa Anita for his return to New Orleans. Trainer Al Stall, Jr. sends out two late Triple Crown nominees, Departing and Sunbean, who come into this off stakes victories. Both were scratched from the Risen Star after drawing outside posts. Departing shipped to Sam Houston to take the Texas Heritage S. while Sunbean dominated statebreds in the off-the-turf Gentilly S. on the Risen Star undercard. Titletown Five finished 2 nd in a minor stakes at Oaklawn on 3/2 when making his seasonal debut following surgery to remove a knee chip. Ground Transport is an intriguing prospect going for his 3 rd straight victory. Golden Soul, Mylute and Proud Strike were the 6-7-8 finishers in the Risen Star and fairly close to the winner at the wire.
Nina s Dragon returns to dirt off a 2 nd place finish in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate. Players can get a handle on his ability by watching his conqueror, Dice Flavor, in the UAE Derby at Meydan earlier in the day. Whiskey Bravo was a non-threatening 4 th behind Departing at Sam Houston. Brazilian Court is another late Triple Crown nominee in the field and exits a runner up effort on the synthetic in the OBS Sales Championship. Hip Four Sixtynine took seven tries to break his maiden and is ambitiously-spotted.
Louisiana Derby is a Grade 2 horse racing event that is organized at Fair Grounds. It has a purse value of 1,000,000. 3 years old horses that can cover a distance of 9 furlong may participate in the race.