Mandaloun, Proxy, Midnight Bourbon top Louisiana Derby entries

Mandaloun, Proxy, and Midnight Bourbon filled the top three slots in the Lecomte Stakes in January and in the Risen Star Stakes in February, and now the leading trio of 3-year-olds stabled this winter in New Orleans top the eight entries for the March 20 Louisiana Derby.

The marathon 14-race program Saturday has first post scheduled for an early 11:20 a.m. Central, and the card concluding with the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, contested for the second year over 1 3/16 miles. The whole Louisiana Derby field, from the rail out with jockeys, is Starrininmydreams (Luis Saez), Rightandjust (Colby Hernandez), Run Classic (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Proxy (John Velazquez), Hot Rod Charlie (Joel Rosario), Mandaloun (Florent Geroux), Midnight Bourbon (Joe Talamo) and O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza).

Hot Rod Charlie, based in California with trainer Doug O’Neill, is the race’s only ship-in. Run Classic exits a solid maiden-route win at Fair Grounds, while the others all raced Feb. 13 in the Risen Star. Mandaloun, making his first start with blinkers, was victorious in that 1 1/8-mile contest for trainer Brad Cox and figures to be favored in the Louisiana Derby, the first 170-point race in Churchill Downs’s Road to the Kentucky Derby. The top four Louisiana Derby finishers get 100, 40, 20, and 10 points, respectively, toward qualifying for the Derby, capped at 20 runners.

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Midnight Bourbon won the Lecomte Stakes and ran solidly in the Risen Star defeat, making first run on pacesetting Rightandjust before finishing third. Proxy was second in the Lecomte and the Risen Star and will be making his first start wearing blinkers after coming off the bridle and losing position at the half-mile pole last month.

O Besos, who showed talent as a late-running one-turn horse in a pair of Fair Grounds sprints this season, raced creditably in the Risen Star, finishing fourth in his two-turn and stakes debut. Rightandjust faded to sixth in the Risen Star and ought to show speed again Saturday breaking from post 2, with rail-drawn Starrininmydreams, who should improve considerably upon his ninth-place Risen Star finish, also likely to seek a forward position.

Immediately preceding the Louisiana Derby is the Grade 3, $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, a key prep for the Kentucky Oaks that drew a good field of eight. Clairiere and Travel Column renew their rivalry here after trading decisions in the Golden Rod last fall at Churchill and the Rachel Alexandra last month at Fair Grounds. Obligatory, Zaajel, and Il Malocchio ship from Florida, while Li’l Tootsie jumps into stakes competition following maiden sprint and allowance route wins this winter. The others entered in the 1 1/16-mile Fair Grounds Oaks are Moon Swag and Souper Sensational.

Colonel Liam, winner of the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf last out, tops the dozen entrants in the Grade 2, $300,000 Muniz Memorial Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf. Colonel Liam drew post 5 and will have Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons as he faces 2020 Muniz winner Factor This; Logical Myth, a two-time turf stakes winner this meet; and several other capable contenders.

The Grade 2, $400,000 New Orleans Classic, carded for 1 1/8 miles on dirt, drew a field with considerably less heft. The entrants, from the rail out, are Roadster, Owendale, Olliemyboy, Captivating Moon, Enforceable, Chess Chief, Mocito Rojo, and Sonneman. Owendale seems the likely favorite for Cox and Geroux.

The other stakes on the card are the $150,000 Tom Benson Memorial for fillies and mares over a route of ground on turf; the Crescent City Derby and Crescent City Oaks, for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds and 3-year-old fillies, respectively; and the Costa Rising, a Louisiana-bred turf sprint. The Costa Rising lured Grade 1-winner No Parole to make his turf debut, while Australasia will be a heavy favorite in the Crescent City Oaks.