Lousiana Derby Day Preview
Fair Grounds Plays Host to Four Grade II Stakes
Closed last year because of Katrina, the Fair Grounds celebrates it first full season with the best race card in the nation.
This Saturday, all eyes focus on the Fair Grounds in Louisiana, as this weekend the historical race course will hold its biggest racing day of the year. Shut down last year due to hurricane Katrina, the Fair Grounds will play host to four Grade II stakes races in what is easily the best race card in the nation.
The day promises to be a celebration of the Fair Grounds' return, a successful season that began in November and will close at the end of this month. The schedule includes the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap for four year olds and up, the Mervin H. Muniz Memorial Handicap and the Louisiana Derby.
The Oaks, run a mile and one16th, will feature the likes of Appealing Zophie, Octave and Mystical Plan. These three are rightfully the morning line favorites, with Appealing Zophie receiving post seven, Octave receiving post four of eight and Mystical Plan who gets the rail.
The New Orleans Handicap, run at a mile and an eighth, features the heavyweight Master Command, New York invader Liquor Cabinet, More than Regal and Patriot Act. Master Command will be carrying 122 pounds, four more than Liquor Cabinet and at least 7 pounds more than the rest of the field. He is the 7 to 5 favorite and receives the outside post at post seven. Liquor Cabinet, at 2 to 1, will be at post five.
The Mervin H. Muniz Memorial Handicap is another $500,000 race, run at a mile and an eighth on the turf. This promises to be a competitive event and marks this year's debut of Kings Drama, the morning line favorite at 7 to 2 and heavyweight carrying 121 pounds. Kings Drama has been assigned post nine of the eleven horse race. Assigned the outside is Einstein, recent winner of the
The biggest race of the meet is the Louisiana Derby, one of the nation's biggest preps, contested at a mile and one 16th. The race features eight competitors, many of which ran in last month's Risen Star Stakes. Circular Quay is the morning line favorite at 9 to 5 but receives an unfavorable rail position.
The race marks this year's debut of birdbirdistheword, winner of last year's Delta Jackpot. This victory has given the colt plenty of graded stakes earnings, but his talent is still a question. He receives post four and has been given the odds of 6 to 1.
This race is most important, however, for Liquidity, Zanjero and Soaring By. Liquidity and Zanjero are relatively low on the graded stakes earning chart, and these two colts may surprisingly be left out of the Kentucky Derby if they don't finish in the money. Liquidity has placed in his last two starts, finishing second to the likes of Stormello and Ravel, not a bad accomplishment. He deserves better and has rightfully been installed as the morning line second favorite. He has been assigned to post number five, in between birdbirdistheword and Zanjero.
For Zanjero, the stakes are equally high. This fast closer, trained by Steve Asmussen, is the third favorite at 4 to1 and will be ridden by Garrett Gomez. Like Liquidity, he needs to finish high, at least in the money to increase is Derby chances.
The surprising I'mawildandcrazyguy, place finisher in the Risen Star, receives the outside post. It will be interesting to see if he can repeat his last performance. He finished with a rush in the Risen Star, quickly shrinking the gap between himself and winner Notional. This race will be his true test and will determine if his effort in the Risen Star was a fluke, or if this colt is for real. This morning line is 10 to 1, not a bad price based on his last effort.
The speed in the race is birdbirdistheword. The most fascinating aspect is that the Derby Field is full of closers, including Zanjero, I'mawildandcrazyguy and Circular Quay. Expect Liquidity to rate the pace. Trainer Todd Pletcher will certainly expect a good effort from Circular Quay, but horses such as Zanjero and Liquidity will need the race more and may not stop at anything to finish in the money.
All horses will carry 122 pounds. Best of luck to all contestants
Grade I Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap. The race also features Naissance Royale, Sweet Return and Hendrix.
