Two of the leading contenders for Saturday’s Grade 1 Florida Derby, Tiz the Law and Independence Hall, turned in their final preps for the meet’s marquee event at virtually the same time albeit 40 miles apart, shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Louisiana Derby analysis
Trainer Brad Cox saved the best for last. On what turned out to be the final day of the Fair Grounds meet, Cox holed out the card by sweeping the final three Grade 2 stakes, including the $1 million Louisiana Derby with Wells Bayou, whose front-running victory gave Cox four victories out of the day’s 12 races.
Gulfstream Park announced Saturday it will cut the purses for five stakes races on next Saturday’s card, including the Grade 1 Florida Derby, which will be reduced from $1 million to $750,000.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in a special meeting on Thursday approved a request by Churchill Downs to run from Sept. 1-Sept. 5 in order to accommodate the rescheduled date of the Kentucky Derby.
No matter the date of the Kentucky Derby, the Louisiana Derby is an important prep, worth 170 points towards a berth in the Derby, including 100 to the winner. And it's an important race regardless, with a $1 million purse and Grade 2 black type. An overflow field was entered, and as many as 14 can start.
Bets made in the three Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pools offered for this year’s running will continue to be honored for this year’s postponed race, a Churchill Downs official said on Thursday.
Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby: Jeff Ruby Steaks analysis
The road to the Kentucky Derby just got longer, and with that trainers will have to adjust their preparation for a race postponed by four months, including those with horses scheduled to run Saturday in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.
Jockey Jose Ortiz will take the remainder of the Gulfstream Park Championship meet off after reporting he still felt some discomfort in his right wrist, injured in a post parade mishap here last month, his agent, Jimmy Riccio, said on Wednesday.
