Girvin better prepared for Louisiana Derby

NEW ORLEANS – Girvin’s path to last month’s Risen Star Stakes here at Fair Grounds was not ideal, yet he won anyway. He has had a perfect schedule since then, and that makes the lightly raced but improving colt strictly the horse to beat on Saturday in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby.

Girvin came into the Risen Star with just two starts, the second of which was delayed, meaning he was back in three weeks instead of the previously hoped for five. But talent trumped experience. He won the Risen Star by a convincing two lengths, beating, among others, Local Hero and Guest Suite, both of whom are back to try again.

For this race, Girvin has had five weeks to prepare since the Risen Star, and trainer Joe Sharp has been able to put three works into him in the interim, as opposed to just one between the Keith Gee Memorial and the Risen Star.

“I definitely feel better in terms of the consistency we’ve had going into this race,” Sharp said at his barn. “He’s been on a regular work pattern. I like the way the races are spaced out. There’s five weeks from the Risen Star to the Louisiana Derby, five weeks from the Louisiana Derby to the Kentucky Derby. It’s optimal spacing.”

A victory would propel Girvin to Churchill Downs as one of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby on May 6. The Risen Star victory was worth 50 points under the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the field for the Derby, which is more than enough to secure a spot if the maximum 20 or more horses enter.

“Points-wise, he’s okay for the Derby,” Sharp said, “but he still needs to perform well and come out of it well.”

The winner of the Louisiana Derby gets 100 points, and second is worth 40, so even if Girvin wins, the runner-up in this race should have enough points to run five weeks hence.

Nine entered the 1 1/8-mile race, but only Girvin and Guest Suite, the winner of the Grade 3 Lecomte on Jan. 21, are stakes winners. Four runners are making their stakes debuts, and two were claimed – one for $20,000, the other for $30,000 – in January.

The Louisiana Derby, slotted as race 11, is the richest of eight stakes on the marathon 15-race card, which begins at 12:30 p.m. Central and is not scheduled to conclude until nearly seven hours later. There are three other Grade 2 races: the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks for Kentucky Oaks aspirants such as Farrell; the $400,000 New Orleans Handicap for older dirt runners, including Eagle and Noble Bird; and the $300,000 Mervin Muniz Memorial for older turf horses, in which Kasaqui, the runner-up in last year’s Arlington Million, takes on four runners trained by Mike Maker.

The Louisiana Derby is the final leg of a pick four that encompasses all four graded stakes.

Girvin will be strongly backed in that sequence. He is unbeaten in his two dirt starts, and his 93 Beyer Speed Figure in the Risen Star makes him the lone entrant to have topped 90. He sat in midpack before finishing well to capture the Risen Star.

“He has the ability to shut it off and wait to be called upon,” Sharp said.

Sharp also entered Hotfoot, who, like Girvin, is owned by Brad Grady. Hotfoot, claimed for $30,000 off Guest Suite’s trainer, Neil Howard, was entered to keep the speedy Local Hero company in the early going.

“It seemed like it could be a one-horse-on-the-lead kind of deal,” Sharp said.

Local Hero, an impressive winner of a maiden race in his two-turn debut here in January, opened up a lengthy lead in the Risen Star before tiring to finish third, 4 1/4 lengths behind Girvin.

Guest Suite was fourth in the Risen Star, a neck behind Local Hero, but he has improved his Beyer figures in every start and has said “more please” when asked about distance.

“The distance should help him,” Howard said outside his Fair Grounds barn. “He’s made steady progress right from the start, up to and including the Risen Star. I feel like he’s still moving forward.”

A quick, contested pace also would benefit Guest Suite.

Senior Investment has the look of a live longshot. He has crossed the wire first in three straight races – one was taken away via a controversial disqualification – and he should get some pace into which to rally.

Like Guest Suite and Senior Investment, Hollywood Handsome figures to be running late.

The lightly raced Patch makes only his third start and his first since winning a one-turn mile against maidens at Gulfstream. He is trained by Todd Pletcher, who also entered Tampa Bay Downs maiden winner Monaco, who is adding blinkers and should contribute to the pace.

The former claimer Sorry Erik was hampered by a wide trip from an outside draw in the Risen Star when seventh.