The Fair Grounds’ long stretch tests stamina, and the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2) is only 110 yards shorter than the Kentucky Derby (G1). In recent years, running in New Orleans’ marquee prep race has led to success on the first Saturday in May.
Official 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun – Photo courtesy of Mathea Kelley
Louisiana Derby also-rans Mandaloun (sixth, 2021) and Country House (fourth, 2019) ran second in Louisville but won the Derby via disqualification. Epicenter (2022) and Hot Rod Charlie (2021) took the Louisiana Derby and were second in Kentucky (Hot Rod Charlie by DQ). Fair Grounds hero Gun Runner (2016) was third in Louisville.
Back in 2003, Funny Cide ran third (moved to second via a DQ) in the Louisiana Derby two starts before he won the Run for the Roses.
Only Grindstone (1996) and Black Gold (1924) won both, a remarkable drought in a race begun in 1894. A breakthrough is beyond overdue, though the field of 12 in Saturday’s Louisiana Derby lacks division leaders Dornoch, Sierra Leone, Timberlake and Fierceness. The first five finishers will earn 100, 50, 25, 15 and 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
The wide-open Louisiana Derby is a handicapping puzzle that should enrich bettors who figure it out. Only Antiquarian, Awesome Ruta and Next Level look overmatched, and everybody else has plenty to prove.
Hall of Fame, Real Men Violin, Common Defense and Tuscan Gold have won only once, but each has flashed potential. It’s the time of year when 3-year-olds can improve dramatically, and one of them could do it. So could the versatile Agate Road (8-1), a strong closer with two turf wins and seconds in his two dirt tries. Pletcher’s Triple Espresso is now set to run in the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Parl.
Track Phantom
The morning-line favorite is front-runner Track Phantom (3-1), a horse-for-course with two stakes wins at Fair Grounds and a second to Sierra Leone last time on a sloppy track in the Risen Star (G2). Sierra Leone was one of two deep closers to win that day, so he was much better than the 11 horses he beat.
Among them were Hall of Fame (seventh), Honor Marie (fifth) and Catching Freedom (third). Hall of Fame, coming off a 10-length maiden romp, never looked comfortable. He broke slowly, steadied briefly, and retreated late after taking mud in the face in mid-pack. Honor Marie (inside early, wide late) never got involved, either.
Catching Freedom
Like Hall of Fame and Honor Marie, Catching Freedom had traffic trouble, but unlike them, he kept battling. Catching Freedom, eighth early, ran third, beaten 1¾ lengths. He gradually improved his position while chasing a slow pace (:49 3/5, 1:14 3/5, 1:39 2/5) and was gaining ground late. He might have been second if he hadn’t been put in tight quarters in mid-stretch.
Catching Freedom 4-1), who’s training well at the Fair Grounds, romped by 2½ lengths on a fast track in his previous race, Oaklawn Park’s Smarty Jones Stakes. A repeat of that performance should put him back in the winner’s circle. I think he’ll run down tiring pacesetter Track Phantom and hold off Honor Marie (8-1).
The picks: 1 Catching Freedom 2 Honor Marie 3 Track Phantom
The field for the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Triple Espresso (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher), 20-1
2 Hall of Fame (Ricard Santana, Jr., Steve Asmussen), 8-1
3 Antiquarian (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher), 12-1
4 Agate Road (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher), 8-1
5 Catching Freedom, Flavien Prat, Brad Cox), 4-1
6 Awesome Ruta (Mitchell Murrill, Joseph Foster), 30-1
7 Honor Marie (Ben Curtis, Whit Beckman), 8-1
8 Next Level (Jason Riquelme, Keith Desormeaux), 30-1
9 Real Men Violin (Corie Lanerie, Ken McPeek), 20-1
10 Common Defense (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Ken McPeek), 6-1
11 Tuscan Gold (Tyler Gaffalione, Chad Brown), 8-1
12 Track Phantom (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen), 3-1