2019 Louisiana Derby Study Guide

Mar 20, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

War of Will takes aim on a Fair Grounds triple when leading a talented field of 11 in Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) . The Mark Casse trainee was victorious in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and Risen Star Stakes (G2), and aims for a third successive score in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points event. War of Will is currently atop the leaderboard with 60 points.

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Here is a look at the field:

Roiland Career Racing Stats

6 Starts
2 Wins
1 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $119,660

Top BRIS Speed rating (91) for third in Risen Star Stakes (G2)

Owner: James and Mary Durlacher
Breeder: James and Mary Durlacher (KY)
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Jockey: James Graham

Sire: Successful Appeal
Dam: Anabranch
Color: Bay

This colt rallied from last to finish a clear third in the Risen Star in a second start with blinkers on. The late runner gets a cozy rail post in this spot and will be making one run in the lane on this occasion. Improvement could see the Kentucky-bred make the frame late.

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Lemniscate Career Racing Stats

3 Starts
1 Wins
1 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $41,450

Top BRIS Speed rating (94) in maiden score

Owner: Susan Moulton, David A. Bernsen and Magdalena Racing
Breeder: Milan Kosanovich (FL)
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Sire: Exchange Rate
Dam: Meet at Lola’s
Color: Gray/Roan

This recent maiden winner made good in his first route attempt with a front-running tally on the Gulfstream Park turf. The Florida-bred colt makes a huge class rise to the graded ranks in a strong field. The speedy sort should factor for the early lead in his local and stakes bow.

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Limonite Career Racing Stats

5 Starts
1 Wins
1 Place
2 Show
Total Career Earnings: $92,300

Top BRIS Speed rating (92) for third in Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2)

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton
Breeder: Roberto Mesquita (KY)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Sire: Lemon Drop Kid
Dam: Colina Verde
Color: Bay

This sneaky contender made up some ground in the Risen Star late and figures to be fitter second time off the shelf in here. The gray colt has trained well in the interim and he receives a fine jockey upgrade to Jose Ortiz for this assignment.

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Sueno Career Racing Stats

5 Starts
2 Wins
2 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $190,440

Top BRIS Speed rating (93) in Southwest Stakes (G3) second

Owner: Silverton Hill LLC
Breeder: Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc. (KY)
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Corey Lanerie

Sire: Atreides
Dam: Class Above
Color: Dark Bay

The former claimer was a closing second in both the Sham Stakes (G3) and Southwest Stakes (G3) in preparation of his first run at Fair Grounds. The dark bay colt is improving, but he will need another forward move to challenge for the top prize in this field.

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By My Standards Career Racing Stats

4 Starts
1 Wins
2 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $53,710

Top BRIS Speed rating (90) in maiden victory

Owner: Allied Racing Stable LLC
Breeder: Don Ladd (KY)
Trainer: Bret Calhoun
Jockey: Gabriel Saez

Sire: Goldencents
Dam: A Jealous Woman
Color: Bay

This $150,000 juvenile purchase graduated in style over a big field on this surface most recently. The consistent Kentucky-bred has a useful turn of foot and has trained in swift fashion in preparation of his stakes debut. He could be a top-four contender with another move in the right direction.

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War of Will Career Racing Stats

7 Starts
3 Wins
1 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $491,569

Top BRIS Speed rating (96) in Risen Star Stakes (G2) triumph

Owner: Gary Barber
Breeder: Flaxman Holdings Limited (KY)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Sire: War Front
Dam: Visions of Clarity
Color: Bay

The clear one to beat, this bay has never been defeated from three lifetime tries on dirt, which includes a pair of graded wins on this main oval. The classy colt draws in the middle of the pack and will be pressing the pace from the outset once again. He looks formidable in a field without a lot of early presence.

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Mr. Money Career Racing Stats

5 Starts
1 Wins
2 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $154,400

Top BRIS Speed rating (92) in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) fourth

Owner: Allied Racing Stable LLC
Breeder: Spruce Lane Farm (KY)
Trainer: Bret Calhoun
Jockey: Adam Beschizza

Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Plenty O’Toole
Color: Bay

This talented sophomore made a nice middle move in the Risen Star before tiring late in a race he needed off the layoff. The Kentucky-bred could be forwardly placed in this run at a big price.

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Country House Career Racing Stats

4 Starts
1 Wins
2 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $120,175

Top BRIS Speed rating (93) for second in Risen Star Stakes (G2)

Owner: Mrs. J.V. Shields Jr., E.J.M. McFadden Jr. and LNJ Foxwoods
Breeder: J.V. Shields Jr. (KY)
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Luis Saez

Sire: Lookin At Lucky
Dam: Quake Lake
Color: Chestnut

This colt made a fine stakes debut in the Risen Star when rallying from well back to be a sharp runner-up. The Bill Mott trainee has improved his BRIS Speed number in every start, and he almost surely will appreciate the additional ground in the Louisiana Derby.

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Bankit Career Racing Stats

8 Starts
2 Wins
3 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $345,625

Top BRIS Speed rating (98) in maiden tally

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton
Breeder: Hidden Brook Farm LLC and Blue Devil Racing (NY)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Sire: Central Banker
Dam: Sister in Arms
Color: Bay

This Steve Asmussen pupil failed to impact both the Smarty Jones Stakes and Southwest Stakes (G3) in anticipation of this event. The Empire State-bred will need an immediate form reversal to challenge the top runners in the field.

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Spinoff Career Racing Stats

3 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $60,000

Top BRIS Speed rating (93) in allowance score

Owner: Wertheimer et Frere
Breeder: Wertheimer et Frere (KY)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Sire: Hard Spun
Dam: Zaftig
Color: Chestnut

A wildcard in this cast, the chestnut toyed with allowance foes at Tampa Bay Downs in his seasonal debut, drawing clear by 11 lengths with ease. The Kentucky-bred sizzled a bullet five furlongs last weekend, and he could be almost any kind of prospect while making his second run since the summer. Jockey John Velazquez coming to ride is a huge positive, as well.

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Hog Creek Hustle Career Racing Stats

6 Starts
2 Wins
1 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $137,300

Top BRIS Speed rating (93) in allowance win

Owner: Something Special Racing LLC
Breeder: Hargus & Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm LLC (KY)
Trainer: Vickie Foley
Jockey: Miguel Mena

Sire: Overanalyze
Dam: Candy Fortune
Color: Dark Bay

This steady late-runner gets a tough draw widest of all and will also have to answer the nine-furlong question for the initial time. The talented colt is consistent but he must vault forward to have a say in the outcome here.