Big 3 from Lecomte, Risen Star meet again in Louisiana Derby
Three top Kentucky Derby contenders who have already faced off twice will enter the gate Saturday at Fair Grounds for the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2), the first 100-40-20-10 Derby points race of the year.
For one of those horses, the Brad Cox-trained Mandaloun, the race is not one he must do well in to make the Derby, as he currently sits third in the standings with 52 points after winning the Risen Star (G2). That should be more than enough to make the 20-stall starting gate at Churchill Downs the first Saturday in May.
Even so, Cox said on a National Thoroughbred Racing Association media conference call on Monday that he has no doubt the Into Mischief colt will be able to handle the 1 3/16-mile race.
“He’s out of an Empire Maker mare so he’s given us enough confidence with his physical makeup,” Cox said. “He’s got plenty of leg, he’s got a beautiful stride. He stays on in his works, has great gallop-outs, so I really don’t think this is going to be an issue.”
Mandaloun finished third in the Lecomte (G3) on Jan. 16, his first attempt at going two turns. Cox put blinkers on the colt for his win in the Risen Star. He said both the equipment change and added maturity netted the victory for Mandaloun.
“You train as much as you want but there’s nothing like the experience of going two turns, so he got a lot out of it, the Lecomte,” Cox said.
Mandaloun, who will be ridden by Florent Geroux, faces a matchup with Midnight Bourbon, winner of the Lecomte and third-place finisher in the Risen Star.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bourbon comes into the race ninth in the Kentucky Derby points standings with 26. Joe Talamo will have the ride from the seventh post position, right next to Mandaloun, who will break from the six hole.
Talamo, a New Orleans native, had nothing but praise for the Tiznow colt, saying he could see the longer distance of the Louisiana Derby suiting him perfectly.
“I really think that added distance is only going to help him,” Talamo said. “He’s a big horse but he’s very, very athletic. Normally a horse like that, it kind of takes him a stride or two to get going but it’s really amazing how good of a gate horse he is.”
Midnight Bourbon sits two points above Proxy in the Derby points standings. The Michael Stidham-trained Godolphin homebred will be looking for his first win in stakes company, having finished second in both the Risen Star and Lecomte.
Stidham said the colt does not necessarily need to win the race in order for him to take the trip to Churchill Downs for the Run for the Roses. However, he felt the Tapit colt has a real shot in the Louisiana Derby.
“I’m not taking the Louisiana Derby lightly,” Stidham said. “This has been my home base for the last 25 years. I would love to win the Louisiana Derby just for those reasons, but like I said, the most important thing for Proxy is that he just continues moving in a forward direction that would set ups up for the ultimate goal.”
John Velazquez has the ride for Proxy, who will come from the fourth gate position in the eight-horse field.
The Louisiana Derby is set to go off Saturday at 6:44 p.m. ET.