Mandaloun favored in TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby

The 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby features familiar faces from the Fair Grounds preps, led by Risen Star (G2) winner Mandaloun, as well as California invader Hot Rod Charlie, who will furnish a test of the local form.

Mandaloun, the 8-5 favorite, has won three of four starts. A stablemate of unbeaten champion Essential Quality from the Brad Cox barn, Mandaloun stamped himself as one to follow by overcoming trouble in his Keeneland debut and adding a Churchill Downs allowance. That made the Juddmonte homebred the odds-on favorite for the Jan. 16 Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds, but he was a slightly deflating third to Midnight Bourbon and Proxy after a wide trip. 

The addition of blinkers sharpened Mandaloun up for the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star, where he packed a stronger punch and turned the tables on his Lecomte foes. The extra sixteenth of a mile here doesn’t figure to be a problem for the son of Into Mischief and Brooch, a Group 2-winning Empire Maker mare, and he’s tactically drawn in post 6 with regular rider Florent Geroux. Mandaloun will try to give Cox and Geroux their second straight Louisiana Derby trophy, following Wells Bayou last year.

Hot Rod Charlie was runner-up to Essential Quality as a 94-1 longshot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). From the barn of two-time Kentucky Derby winner Doug O’Neill, Hot Rod Charlie backed up that effort with a near-miss third to Medina Spirit in the Jan. 30 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita. The son of 2013 Preakness (G1) hero Oxbow, and half-brother to champion sprinter Mitole, is eligible to move forward in this second start of the season. With O’Neill currently serving a suspension, his top assistant, Leandro Mora, is in charge, and Joel Rosario retains the mount aboard the 3-1 chance.

Proxy (7-2) has placed second in both Derby points races so far in New Orleans. The Godolphin homebred resolutely outdueled Mandaloun to gain runner-up honors in the Lecomte, but a lack of consistent focus was evident in their Risen Star rematch. Thus trainer Michael Stidham decided to add blinkers on Saturday. The added ground is also a plus for the son of Tapit and multiple Grade 1 victress Panty Raid, as is the returning hand of Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

Lecomte star Midnight Bourbon (5-1), a Tiznow half-brother to 2017 Louisiana Derby hero Girvin, also represents connections with past success in this race. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is a three-time Louisiana Derby winner, and two of those scores came with fellow Winchell colorbearers Pyro (2008) and Gun Runner (2016) (co-owned by Three Chimneys). Midnight Bourbon benefited by controlling the pace in the Lecomte, but he didn’t respond as effectively as a stalker in the Risen Star and wound up third.

Three others need to step up from their Risen Star losses. O Besos was closing fourth, but well back of the top three, while Rightandjust succumbed to pace pressure and faded to sixth. Starrininmydreams, 2-for-2 going into the Risen Star, never really had a chance to put his best foot forward after a slow start and dropped back to a discouraged ninth. The homebred for trainer Dallas Stewart and WinStar Farm will try to turn the page with new rider Luis Saez.

Run Classic, a $475,000 son of Runhappy, was a good-looking maiden winner on the Risen Star undercard. Trained by Bret Calhoun, who sent out 2019 Louisiana Derby scorer By My Standards, Run Classic reunites with Brian Hernandez Jr.

The finale of a stakes-packed, 14-race card at Fair Grounds, the Louisiana Derby is scheduled to go off at 6:44 p.m. (ET).