2009 Kentucky Derby trail: Grade 2 Louisiana Derby

There are no less than four Saturday Derby preps on tap, and each day this week I will preview one, starting with the Louisiana Derby.

I liked Patena in the Lecomte, and he ran on nicely to land the place in his initial try over conventional dirt. My Derby future (pool 1) play was subsequently purchased by IEAH and is now trained by Rick Dutrow, the same connections that brought us Big Brown last year. Well bred $250k Keeneland sales grad drilled a bullet at the Gulf on March 9th and figures to fire a big shot off the layoff under Robby Albarado.

Flying Pegasus ran a huge race to land the place off a layoff while wide from 12-hole in Risen Star. Albarado abandons for Patena, but Johnny V is an ample sub. Ralph Nicks is 21% 2nd off a layoff, and he can compete here if able to avoid a bounce.

Friesan Fire goes for a sweep of the Fair Grounds graded schedule. After wasting too much early energy in an entry level loss to Uno Mas in December, he relaxed nicely and parlayed stalking trips into Lecomte (G3) and Risen Star (G3) wins. Son of A.P. Indy sports a local bullet for this, and this could be a big weekend for Larry Jones as he has Rebel fav Old Fashioned going on Saturday as well.

Papa Clem is the wildcard. Synthetic specialist was beaten a 1/2 length by Pioneerof The Nile in the Robert Lewis Stakes (replay below), and he outfinished subsequent Gotham winner I Want Revenge that day. Early/pressing type is working well for this, and top notch jockey Rafael Bejarano strings along. Gary Stute is 0-15 in graded races and 21% with horses moving from synthetic to dirt.

Giant Oak finished a troubled 5th as the overbet fav in a needed Risen Star effort. He should move forward but could be one of those late running trouble prone types. Note that his two wins occurred on turf and synthetic.

Free Country exits disappointing 4th in graded event at Tampa Bay, but some horses do not handle that surface, so he could rebound with blinkers today. Kent D/McPeek are 30% together, and he sports a pair of Gulfstream bullets for this.

Soul Warrior showed no speed in 6th place Risen Star effort, and Steve Asmussen adds the hood in hopes of getting him focused and involved earlier. He reunites with barn $$ rider Shaun Bridgmohan.

Uno Mas finished 3rd in the Risen Star and 4th in the Lecomte after upsetting Friesan Fire in a local allowance race on Dec 18th.

Nowhere To Hide ran better than expected in even 4th (Risen Star), but he had a good inner post that day, and he’s on the outside looking in today. Just like countless others, the Nick Zito (pictured) runner enters off a bullet work.

Terrain has not been seen since flopping as the fav in Delta Jackpot (G3) on Dec 5th. Al Stall Jr. is 40% blinkers off, but note that this one has lost all four of his starts at a mile or longer. Leparoux hops aboard and he sports a pair of local bullets, but I’ll give the returnee a race.

Top 3 Selections: (1) Patena, (2) Flying Pegasus, (3) Friesan Fire

Longshot To Watch: Free Country

Tomorrow, I will take a look at the San Felipe Stakes.

Photo Credit: newscom.com