Marcus Hersh's top 3-year-olds at Fair Grounds on March 23

This is it – the final week of the long Fair Grounds meet. And the more the top of the 3-year-old male class stabled in New Orleans this winter shows itself, the greater the realization that the group – the ones who ran in stakes, at least – was not a strong one. TIZNOW R J was poor again at Sunland Park this past weekend, and while WIRELESS FUTURE didn’t get a good trip, he also failed to distinguish himself in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway. Of the horses who have been based here most of the meet, I’m not sure Louisiana Derby hopeful WAR STORY is fundamentally better than two sharp maiden winners who got going too late for stakes at Fair Grounds, both of whom make this list.

If, however, I had to pick the exacta in the Kentucky Oaks right now, I’d go Fair Grounds over Fair Grounds, Larry Jones over Larry Jones: I’M A CHATTERBOX looks for real, and LOVELY MARIA is not all that far behind her.

Top 3-year-old males

1. INTERNATIONAL STAR
Trainer: Mike Maker
Pedigree: Fusaichi Pegasus—Parlez, by French Deputy
Last race: 1st in the Risen Star on Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 93/93
Target Race: Louisiana Derby on March 28 at Fair Grounds
Comment: What if he’s, you know, actually good? I’ve been as skeptical as anyone and still am to some degree, but International Star has basically done nothing wrong this year, and he probably did take an incremental step forward from the Lecomte when he won the Risen Star. Doubt the nine furlongs of the Louisiana Derby will trouble him, and this race doesn’t figure to be significantly deeper than the Risen Star. There’s not a whole lot to the colt, and I’ve heard horsemen raise questions about his conformation with regard to future soundness, but I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t at least run his race Saturday.

:: TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS: Aqueduct | Gulfstream | Oaklawn

2. WAR STORY
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Pedigree: Northern Afleet—Belle Watling, by Pulpit
Last race: 2nd in Risen Star on Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 91/91
Target race: Louisiana Derby, March 28 at Fair Grounds
Comment: Likely not at his best despite a career-best in the Risen Star: His preparation for the race was difficult, including a roundtrip to Oaklawn Park for an abandoned run in the postponed Southwest Stakes. War Story missed a work and was off his feed early in the week before the Risen Star, suggesting he can do better in the Louisiana Derby. Needs better gate habits – slow starts in both his runs this winter. Not a massive horse but well balanced and remains lightly raced with some upside.

3. YOCKEY’S WARRIOR
Trainer: Al Stall
Pedigree: Warrior’s Reward–Silla, by Gone West
Last race: 1st in maiden special weight sprint Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 97/97
Target race: Keeneland one-turn allowance race
Comment: Powerhouse debut winner has speed but also a female-side pedigree that suggests he will stay two turns. Plan is to run him back in a seven-furlong first-level allowance race on opening day of the Keeneland meet. If you liked him before, how about now? Harvey, crushed by Yockey in their common career debut, ran well enough second time out to make this list.

4. HARVEY
Trainer: Bret Calhoun
Pedigree: Curlin–Upcomin Story, by Tale of the Cat
Pedigree: 1st in maiden race March 21 at Fair Grounds
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 89/89
Target race: Uncertain
Comment: Despite a flashy work pattern, he just wasn’t all there in his career debut, starting with a sluggish break, but second time out saw the colt put it all together. Finished strong, laid down a very fast fifth furlong and looked like a colt ready to try a longer race next up.

5. WIRELESS FUTURE
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Pedigree: Scat Daddy—Princess Whinny, by Theatrical
Last race: 1st in allowance race Feb. 5 at Fair Grounds
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 86/86
Target race: Uncertain
Comment: Stuck on fence, perhaps worst part of Turfway surface, throughout the Spiral, and that while taking pace pressure following a 22-and-change opening quarter-mile. Wanted to see more from him, but in truth, he never really had a fair shot, and jury remains out.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Top 3-year-old fillies

1. I’M A CHATTERBOX
Trainer: Larry Jones
Pedigree: Munnings—Chit Chatter, by Lost Soldier
Last race: 1st in Rachel Alexandra on Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/94
Target race: Fair Grounds Oaks, March 28 at Fair Grounds
Comment: Back on the work tab March 16, blazing five furlongs solo with race rider Florent Geroux up. Geroux texted that the filly was “very impressive,” and he thinks she might be the real thing – as in Kentucky Oaks real.
Wired the Silverbulletday on fast pace, then came from last to win the Rachel Alexandra – that’s impressive stuff. She’s a somewhat slight filly but has put on weight through the winter, and the trainer seems to have her figured out.

2. LOVELY MARIA
Trainer: Larry Jones
Pedigree: Majesticperfection—Thundercup, by Thunder Gulch
Last race: 2nd in Rachel Alexandra on Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 86/88
Target race: Undecided: Ashland?
Comment: She probably got too much of a hot pace in the Rachel Alexandra and finished far better than the other pace horses in the race, though somewhat short-coupled blocky type might not want much more distance than 8 1/2 furlongs. Unlike stablemate I’m a Chatterbox, she has yet to work back, suggesting she’s being routed to the Ashland Stakes rather than the Fair Grounds Oaks.

3. FOREVER UNBRIDLED
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Pedigree: Unbridled’s Song–Lemons Forever, by Lemon Drop Kid
Last race: 3rd in Rachel Alexandra on Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 85/85
Target race: Fair Grounds Oaks, March 28 at Fair Grounds
Comment: Baby steps. I expected more in January but perhaps expected a little less than what she delivered in the Rachel Alexandra. Still, she couldn’t catch Lovely Maria for second with a much better trip and probably should have if she’s to be taken seriously as an Oaks contender, be it of the Fair Grounds or Kentucky variety.

Honorable mention: Shook Up, Mizz Money