Louisiana Derby Highlights Huge Fair Grounds Saturday

By Emily Shields

A whopping eight stakes races are spread throughout a 13-race card at the Fair Grounds on Saturday. It is the biggest day of their meet.

A field of 11 sophomore colts are slated to run in the 1 1/8 mile Louisiana Derby (G2), worth $1 million. Local post time is 5:13pm.

#1 Roiland (12-1) is coming off a third-place effort in the Risen Star (G2) behind two rivals in this race. The son of Successful Appeal has not won since taking a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Churchill in October, and is two for six lifetime.

#2 Lemniscate (15-1) I a so of Exchange Rate that cost $145,000. Ken McPeek trains; the front running gray broke his maiden on the turf at Gulfstream Park.

#3 Limonite (20-1) is a Steve Asmussen-trained son of Lemon Drop Kid. He was fifth in the Risen Star and before that was grade 2-placed at Churchill. Like many of these, this is his first try at the distance.

#4 Sueno (8-1) is a California shipper for Keith Desormeaux who was a narrowly beaten second in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn last out. Before that he was second in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, and won a one-mile stakes race at Golden Gate. Sueno is two for five and has never been worse than third. His dam Class Above was a multiple stakes winner in Kentucky.

#5 By My Standards (12-1) is trained by Bret Calhoun. The Goldencents colt broke his maiden here at 1 1/16 miles by 4 ½ lengths, and has never been worse than third on this track or going two turns.

#6 War of Will (6-5) is the highly regarded favorite. The Mark Casse-trained son of War Front won both local preps here and has won his last three by a combined 11 ¼ lengths. Tyler Gaffalione will be up once again; the pair is unbeaten to date and are hoping to use this spot to continue their march on the Kentucky Derby.

#7 Mr. Money (20-1) is another Calhoun-trained son of GOldencents. This one cost $130,000 as a yearling and was seventh in the Risen Star. Before than he ran fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) behind Game Winner.

#8 Country House (9-2) is your second choice. He broke his maiden impressively at Gulfstream Park for Bill Mott two back, then ran second here in the Risen Star. The son of Lookin At Lucky has been training forwardly for this with a strong five furlong workout on March 9.

#9 Bankit (20-1) has been first or second in five of eight lifetime starts. He has not been on the board since December 16, but was beaten a nose in the Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga last year for trainer Asmussen.

#10 Spinoff (8-1) is royally bred and trained by Todd Pletcher. He broke his maiden first out at Gulfstream last summer, ran third in a grade 2 at the Spa, then won an allowance at Tampa Bay by a jaw-dropping 11 ¾ lengths. He fired a bullet at Palm Beach Downs on March 15.

#11 Hog Creek Hustle (12-1) was second in the LeComte (G3) behind War of Will and fourth in the Risen Star. He is two for six lifetime with four top three efforts since breaking his maiden sprinting at Ellis Park last year.