Takeaways from 2024 Louisiana Derby

Mar 27, 2024 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

The $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 23 wrapped up the Road to the Kentucky Derby series at Fair Grounds. A major qualifier awarding points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis, the Louisiana Derby has produced a Kentucky Derby winner (Mandaloun) and a pair of second-place finishers (Epicenter and Hot Rod Charlie) over the last three runnings.

Here are three takeaways from the Louisiana Derby.

Catching Freedom becomes major player

Catching Freedom dropped back to last of 11 after being cut off at the break, traveling nearly 10 lengths off the pace during the opening six furlongs, and didn’t begin to make serious headway until midway on the far turn. He closed fast into contention while swinging wide into the stretch with Flavien Prat, eventually wearing down pacesetter Track Phantom and outfinishing Honor Marie to score by a length in the 1 3/16-mile race.

After registering an 89 Brisnet Speed rating for his win in January’s Smarty Jones S. and a 91 for his third in the Feb. 17 Risen Star (G2), Catching Freedom received a career-best 100 number. That’s the second-best Speed rating from 18 Kentucky Derby qualifiers this year, trailing only the 101 earned by Mystik Dan for his Southwest (G3) win.

Catching Freedom established himself as a top contender for the Kentucky Derby. He doesn’t have to race at the tail of the field, ideally seeking to settle more toward midpack in a bulky field at Churchill Downs, and the improving three-year-old promises to bring a strong finishing kick.

And with the potential for upsets in the remaining six major qualifiers, Catching Freedom has an outside chance to vie for favoritism in the Kentucky Derby.

The son of Constitution is trained by Brad Cox, who also has Arkansas Derby (G1)-bound Timberlake, Wood Memorial (G2) contender Just a Touch, and John Battaglia Memorial winner Encino readying for possible Kentucky Derby bids.

CATCHING FREEDOM caught them all going from last to first in the 111th running of the https://t.co/EynbFb3eBd $1M Louisiana Derby (GII) at the Fair Grounds.

Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Brad Cox
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/mYBsy8TykG

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 23, 2024

Honor Marie improves second start back

Winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in late November, Honor Marie found his best stride too late when returning from a layoff in the Risen Star, rallying belatedly for fifth. He showed more in the Louisiana Derby, launching his move on the far turn and charging alongside Catching Freedom before being outfinished in deep stretch.

It’s an encouraging effort to build upon for the Whit Beckworth-trained colt. A debut winner at Churchill in late September, the son of Honor Code recorded a second in a salty allowance before stretching out to two turns in the Kentucky Jockey Club, finishing stoutly to win going away by two lengths.

The confirmed closer will look to keep showing more next time.

Tuscan Gold needs help after good third; Track Phantom brings speed

Tuscan Gold stalked a wide third during the early stages and loomed a serious win contender in the stretch, winding up 1 3/4 lengths back of the winner in his stakes debut. A romping maiden winner when stretching to two turns at Gulfstream Park in late January, Tuscan Gold made only his third career start in the Louisiana Derby and looks very promising for Chad Brown, but the Medaglia d’Oro colt will need defections to make the Kentucky Derby field after picking up 25 points for the third-place effort.

Track Phantom will head to the Kentucky Derby after weakening to fourth. Winner of the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte (G3) in January, the Steve Asmussen-trained Quality Road colt has faltered while stretching out in distance in the last two starts, and the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby distance represents an imposing challenge. But Track Phantom adds speed to a projected Kentucky Derby field populated mostly by stalkers and confirmed closers at this point.