Ky. Derby prep guide: Louisiana Derby field, analysis, free PPs
The most important Kentucky Derby 2025 preps begin Saturday. The Grade 2, 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby offers the longest-distance test on the Kentucky Derby trail.
Stamina-rich contenders vie for the 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers. The winner mathematically clinches, and the second-place horse practically is guaranteed to get in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby on May 3.
Ten colts are entered to run. They are headlined by Sam F. Davis winner John Hancock at 7-2 on the morning line. Brad Cox re-routed this unbeaten son of Constitution from the Virginia Derby last week to Fair Grounds for a third lifetime start.
With Risen Star (G2) winner Magnitude out due to injury, the second- through fourth-place finishers from that prep have returned for another chance to make the Kentucky Derby. Chunk of Gold, the long-shot runner-up trained by Ethan West, is back to prove his class. Built, winner of the Gun Runner stakes, is looking for a top performance for trainer Wayne Catalano. D. Wayne Lukas brings his Sunland Derby runner-up Caldera in to improve on that performance and add to his Derby point total.
Post time for the Louisiana Derby is scheduled for 6:42 EDT.
The Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on Saturday at Turfway Park also offers 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers. A full field of 12 plus one also-eligible is entered this 1 1/8-mile test on the Tapeta. Poster, the Remsen (G2) winner and Sam F. Davis third-place finisher, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for trainer Eoin Harty. Tommy Drury's California Burrito won the Battaglia last month in preparation for this race and is the 7-2 second choice. Post time for the Jeff Ruby Steaks is set for 6:25 p.m. EDT.
TV coverage of the Louisiana Derby and Jeff Ruby Steaks will be on CNBC, FanDuel TV and Peacock.
Fair Grounds and Turfway will offer a low-takeout, cross-track Pick 5 featuring the Derby preps and three other graded stakes.
Here are the top lifetime speed figures for the Louisiana Derby entrants. Beyer Speed Figures are courtesy of Daily Racing Form. TFUS is TimeformUS.
| Post | Horse | Beyer | TFUS | Brisnet | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Hancock | 85 | 115 | 97 | 113 |
| 2 | Chunk of Gold | 92 | 108 | 94 | 113 |
| 3 | Tiztastic | 89 | 110 | 90 | 110 |
| 4 | Yinzer | 85 | 110 | 87 | 105 |
| 5 | Caldera | 91 | 111 | 96 | 129 |
| 6 | Built | 92 | 111 | 94 | 123 |
| 7 | Vassimo | 89 | 106 | 91 | 109 |
| 8 | Furio | 84 | 110 | 88 | 116 |
| 9 | Instant Replay | 92 | 111 | 93 | 117 |
| 10 | Hypnus | 85 | 107 | 92 | 115 |
Louisiana Derby pace
John Hancock has the best early foot to make the lead, according to the TimeformUS Pace Projector. His past performances show he has the stamina to keep it up for quite a distance if left alone. Hot on his heels, though, should be Furio, who will get a forward ride from Luis Saez.
Just behind these leaders, Yinzer, Built and Vassimo will take up pressing positions. Caldera, Chunk of Gold and Instant Replay will settle in mid-pack with Tiztastic and Hypnus bring up the rear. The pressured pace could set up for these colts' late moves. Blinkers go on Built and Vassimo, which should put them closer to the pace than previous starts.
Horse Racing Nation plays
HRN's Ed DeRosa and Mark Midland got together to handicap the Louisiana Derby card. Get their expert opinions and wagering advice in this new video.
Get to know the Louisiana Derby contenders with Matt Shifman, complete with odds and analysis.
As many as six horses could clinch Kentucky Derby berths this weekend.
Laurie Ross and Ashley Tamulonis go head to head on the Louisiana Derby and come out with different picks for the win spot. See how they make the case for their plays.
Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat is on the Louisiana Derby favorite and the returning Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone on Saturday at Fair Grounds. Get the rider's point of view in this week's Ron Flatter Pod. This episode also has Ed DeRosa handicapping both Derby preps and one other graded stakes Saturday.
HorseCenter's Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman weigh in with Louisiana Derby tips and long shots plus some chatter on Sierra Leone.
Horse Racing Nation's Super Screener has in-depth analysis of the Louisiana Derby. Creator Mike Shutty has narrowed the field to three top win choices. One of them is coming back from the Risen Star, which is shaping up to be a key race this season.
"American Promise and Render Judgment finished up the track in Risen Star and then came back last week to finish 1-2 in the Virginia Derby, which signals a possible top performance coming from Built in this comeback race," Shutty said.
"This is especially true coming off a pace top while traveling nine furlongs. Blinkers get added and his last work was quite sharp helping add to the prognosis of a form-cycle advancement. He’ll sit three to four lengths off the pace here in the early going with about the same margin of difference heading into the mid-point of the final turn and, with plenty of energy in reserve, will just grind on from there to the wire."
For more insight into the Louisiana Derby as well as wagering strategies for the other stakes on the Fair Grounds card, get the Super Screener. It's just $97 for weekly analysis, and it includes the entire Triple Crown.