Louisiana Derby becomes Round 2 for Intense Holiday, Albano
NEW ORLEANS – Intense Holiday and Albano, separated by a nose at the end of last month’s Risen Star Stakes, renew their battle for New Orleans on Saturday at the Fair Grounds in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, a race whose level of importance was raised by a horse who’s not even here.
Hoppertunity finished a distant fourth in the Risen Star, but came out of that race to capture the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn. That underscored the quality of the Risen Star, in particular the first two finishers, who were 5 1/2 lengths clear of third-place Vicar’s in Trouble, who is also back for the Louisiana Derby.
The Louisiana Derby is worth a lot, both in terms of money and points toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 3. Like the Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream, it offers 170 points overall, including 100 to the winner and 40 to second. Intense Holiday earned 50 points through his Risen Star victory.[bc_video_id:319722:]
The Louisiana Derby is the 11th race on a 13-race marathon of a card that begins at 12:30 p.m. Central and is scheduled to end nearly seven hours later. There are five other stakes on the card, including three other Grade 2 events, most notably the Fair Grounds Oaks, headed by divisional leaders Untapable and Unbridled Forever. There’s also the Mervin Muniz, for older grass horses, featuring Arlington Million winner Real Solution, and a compelling New Orleans Handicap that pits older dirt runners such as Palace Malice and Normandy Invasion.
Intense Holiday is the deserving favorite in the Louisiana Derby, which drew a field of 10. With his late-running style, stretching out from the Risen Star’s 1 1/16 miles to the Louisiana Derby’s 1 1/8 miles should be ideal.
“His last race, he seemed to relish the distance, and he galloped out well,” said Jack Wolf, the head of the Starlight Stables partnership that owns Intense Holiday.
“And Mike Smith gave him a fantastic ride.”
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
Albano just missed in the Risen Star, and was a distant second to Vicar’s in Trouble in the Lecomte. His trainer, Larry Jones, and owner and breeder, Brereton Jones, were second in both the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby two years ago with Albano’s half-brother, Mark Valeski.
“I’d like to end all these seconds,” Larry Jones said. “It’s hard to get that close and lose by a nose. But I’d rather be second than fifth or sixth. You know you belong.”
Albano started from the rail in the Risen Star and went straight to the lead. He drew the outside in the Louisiana Derby, and figures to stalk Rise Up, whose trainer, Tom Amoss, said will be sent after the lead.
Albano “will adapt to whatever the situation is,” Larry Jones said.
“He’s continued to improve. Every race we’ve seen improvement from the previous race,” Jones said. “Hopefully this race puts us where we need to be for the Kentucky Derby.”
Vicar’s in Trouble was sensational in the Lecomte, which was his second straight daylight win over this track. In the Risen Star, he started from post 13 in a field of 14 and raced wide throughout. He drew far better for the Louisiana Derby, landing post 6.
Gold Hawk (fifth), Commanding Curve (sixth), Rise Up (seventh), and Flat Gone (eighth) are seeking to improve upon their Risen Star performances.
Gold Hawk, an impeccably bred colt by Empire Maker out of the champion filly Caressing, was third in the Lecomte prior to the Risen Star.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been higher on a horse who’s gotten less done,” his trainer, Steve Asmussen, said Thursday morning. “I still think it’s in him. I still think he’s capable.”
Asked how his works have been, Asmussen simply said, “Wow. Wow.”
Commanding Curve went straight from a maiden win at Churchill Downs into the Risen Star off a layoff of nearly three months, which is why trainer Dallas Stewart believes he can move forward Saturday.
“He was wide in the Risen Star, and he’s come back to work well,” Stewart said. “I think he’s going to run really well.”
Rise Up has done his best running on the lead, but didn’t make the top last time and faded. He adds blinkers for this race, and the intent is clear.
“We’re committed to go to the front and see how long we can last,” said Amoss, his trainer.
Flat Gone only owns a win against maidens in eight starts.
In Trouble is the most-dangerous newcomer to this lineup. All his prior races have been in New York, where he was an excellent third last time out in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, his first start in more than five months. If the local horses are overrated, he is best suited to capitalize.
Louies Flower was rank and faded badly in his lone start this year, the Southwest at Oaklawn. He won three straight, all at Remington, to end his 2-year-old campaign
King Cyrus, like Intense Holiday trained by Todd Pletcher, has lost three straight since a debut win last summer at Saratoga. He was a distant second in a minor stakes at Calder in his only start this year.