A History of the Louisiana Derby

Although Grindstone in 1996 gets credit as the most recent Louisiana Derby (G2) winner to win the Kentucky Derby, several top runners in the last decade have come from Louisiana’s best-known race for sophomores.

The 106th Louisiana Derby (G2) takes place on Saturday, and drew a field including War of Will, a dual stakes winner already at the meet. Other contenders include Bill Mott’s Country House and Tom Amoss’s Roiland, second and third behind War of Will in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) last month.

But will any of them go on to do as well or better than other recent winners? Last year’s striking winner Noble Indy hasn’t won since in four tries, but is back in on the card in the New Orleans Handicap for older horses. There he will face old rival Lone Sailor, who was second behind him in the Derby last season.

2017 hero Girvin went on to win the Haskell Invitational (G1) by a desperate nose over a competitive group.

Perhaps the best of all recent Louisiana Derby winners is Gun Runner, who took the race by 4 ½ lengths in 2016. The son of Candy Ride (Arg) finished third in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) that year before winning the Clark Handicap (G1). He returned as an older horse to add six more stakes wins, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Pegasus World Cup (G1). He ultimately earned $15.9 million.

2015 winner International Star is making headlines because he is back at the races after two years off. The seven-year-old missed the Kentucky Derby with injury, but returned to be a stakes winner and multiple grade 2 placed. He had last raced May 5, 2017 at Churchill Downs, then raced at Gulfstream Park on Thursday, March 14, 2019. The same ownership group that had International Star – Ken and Sarah Ramsey – also had 2014 winner Vicar’s in Trouble. He came back to Louisiana to win the Super Derby (G2) 5 ½ months later.

From the rest of the decade, 2009 winner Friesan Fire has become a successful sire. Popular gelding Pants on Fire (2011) earned $1.6 million in his 41-race career. Revolutionary (2013) went on to be third in the Kentucky Derby.

The Louisiana Derby is the first Kentucky Derby prep of the season that sports the points system of 100 – 40 – 20 – 10, meaning the first-place runner is guaranteed a spot in the Derby and the second place runner can feel pretty confident about getting in. 11 horses will vie for this opportunity on Saturday.