Local boys Amoss, Stall going for the big one

For all they’ve accomplished in their illustrious training careers at their hometown track of Fair Grounds, neither Tom Amoss nor Albert Stall Jr. has ever won the Louisiana Derby. The former roommates at Louisiana State University are hoping that changes Saturday when the Louisiana Derby is run for the 103rd time.

Amoss has the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the $1 million Louisiana Derby in Mo Tom, while Stall will saddle Forevamo, a 10-1 chance in the field of 11 3-year-olds.

The best Amoss can show from 10 previous Louisiana Derby starts is a second by Mylute, who was beaten a neck by Revolutionary in 2013. Last year, Amoss sent out War Story to run third at 2-1.

“I’ve been among the favorites before and come away empty-handed, unfortunately,” Amoss said Monday by phone. “Hopefully, this one has our name on it. If not, I’m pulling for Al, 110 percent.”

“Tom’s got the horse to beat this year, in my mind,” said Stall, whose Louisiana Derby record from a handful of starters includes back-to-back runner-up finishes with Ketchikan (2007) and My Pal Charlie (2008). “But I like my horse. He’s on schedule. He literally hasn’t missed a day or an oat since his last race. You usually like that going in, having things go smooth.”

Amoss ran his first winner at Fair Grounds in the fall of 1990 and entered this week with 1,007 wins at the New Orleans track, including 78 stakes. Stall won his first race at Fair Grounds in 1991 and now has 530 wins there, including 42 stakes. Both men are 54-year-old New Orleans natives enshrined in the Fair Grounds Hall of Fame.

The 1 1/8-mile Louisiana Derby, which offers 100 Kentucky Derby eligibility points to the winner, anchors a 15-race Saturday card that starts at 12:30 p.m. Central and ends at 7:25. Four graded stakes will be run consecutively (races 7-10) and are linked together in a pick four wager. Those races are the New Orleans Handicap (3:23 post), Muniz Memorial (3:52), Fair Grounds Oaks (4:27), and Louisiana Derby (5:12).

Four Louisiana-bred stakes are also on tap: the Star Guitar (race 2), Crescent City Derby (race 5), Costa Rising (race 11), and Crescent City Oaks (race 12).

Fair Grounds closes its long winter meet with a 14-race card Sunday.