Louisiana Derby Week Notes (3-25-15)

LOUISIANA DERBY

A DAY IN PARADISE – Monday, five furlongs in 1:00 flat (4/16) – Larry Jones –“He worked really well.  He’s coming in as well you can hope for, like all of my horses on Saturday.  We know we’re being ambitious with him, but when you run for that kind of money there are going to be some good horses in there.  If we use War Story as our common denominator – as effective as he’s been in the last two – he only beat us a couple lengths and (A Day in Paradise) was coming off a long layoff at that time and just got a little tired.  We’re optimistically hoping with him, even though we know his numbers may not match up.  If there’s ever a time to try him it’s now and the distance should suit him and not be a problem at all because he just never gets tired.”

DEFONDO – Sunday, four furlongs in :48.80 (16/82) – “He worked well.  He galloped out in 1:02 and looked sharp.  He jogged today and we are planning on running him.  It’s a tough field, but we’ll take a shot.”

INTERNATIONAL STAR – Sunday, five furlongs in 1:02.47 (20/31) at Gulfstream Park

MR. Z – Tuesday, four furlongs in :50.20 (40/88) at Oaklawn Park – D. Wayne Lukas (trainer) – “He was fine.  A maintenance move.  He is riding in the trailer with me right now down (Interstate) 49 and we’ll be there later this afternoon.”

FAIR GROUNDS OAKS

AUDREY’S DOUBLE – Sunday, four furlongs in :49.80 (38/82) – Neil Pessin (trainer): “We’re still on go.  She worked well and finished really well.  We’re going to enter.”

I’M A CHATTERBOX – Monday, five furlongs in :59.60 (2/16) – Larry Jones (trainer): “It was really good.  She’s doing great and keeps getting better all the time.”

FOREVER UNBRIDLED – Saturday, five furlongs in 1:00.60 (1/22) – Dallas Stewart (trainer) – “She did just what we wanted her to do.  She did it in hand and galloped out well.  She’s a big strong filly and we took our time getting her started.  She keeps getting better race by race, so hopefully she moves forward and sets herself up well for the Kentucky Oaks.”

TACHIELLO – Saturday, four furlongs in :49.60 (24/67) – Joe Sharp (trainer): “She breezed well.  We’re considering the (Fair Grounds) Oaks with her.  The mile and a sixteenth distance is more suited for her than going a mile or seven-eighths.  Obviously with the two big guns it’s going to be hard to beat them – but if you can pick up a placing the residual value can skyrocket.  Otherwise we’ll look for an allowance at Keeneland.”

NEW ORLEANS HANDICAP

ALBANO – Monday, five furlongs in :59.80 (3/16) – Larry Jones (trainer): “He’s working well.  He used to not want to work like this unless we threw him in company, but now he’s doing it by himself.  He looks like he’s finally stepping it up.”

MYSTERY TRAIN – Monday, five furlongs in 1:01.60 (6/16) – Darrell Vienna (trainer) – “We were aiming for something between 1:01 and 1:02 and we got that.  He’s doing really well and is feeling really good.  He came out of the work great and we’re looking forward to the race.”

ONE KING’S MAN – Monday, three furlongs in :34.20 (1/9) – Joe Sharp (trainer): “I was on him and he did it very well within himself.  It was the same thing he did before the Delta race.  He’s a deep closer and considering the amount of speed in the race, it’ll put him on his toes and get him a little more involved early.  Having said that, he’s as fit as can be and didn’t need much.”

MUNIZ MEMORIAL

AZTEC BRAVE – Monday, four furlongs on grass in :48.80 (1/3) – Joe Sharp (trainer): “He had an awesome work came home his last quarter in :22 2/5. I’m on the fence on whether to run at Aqueduct or the Muniz.  We’ll see how it comes up and take it from there.”

CHOCOLATE RIDE – Monday, four furlongs on grass in :50.60 (3/3) – Ricky Giannini (assistant trainer to Brad Cox): “He’s fit and got his major work in last week in 1:02 on the grass.  He went off (Monday) in :14 and then :13 and then he has that switch and came home in :12 and then :11 1/5.  The best thing about it is he was barely blowing after at the barn.  He came home faster this work than his (major work).  My rider has been on him for the last three months and knows him so well.  They click together.  He asked him and he responded.  He’s become a classic horse and knows when you push his buttons.  Taking the blinkers off has really helped.  He’s settled.”

PAROLED – Monday, four furlongs on grass in :50 flat (2/3) – Angel Montano (trainer): “I didn’t let him do much.  He went in :50 and galloped out good.  The gallop was even better than the work.  He’s doing good and came out okay. He’s ready to go for Saturday.”

SHINING COPPER – Monday, four furlongs in :49.40 (24/41)

Source: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots