Mr. Z losing blinkers for Louisiana Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Mr. Z completed preparations for the Louisiana Derby with an easy half-mile breeze Tuesday at Oaklawn and was scheduled to ship Wednesday to Fair Grounds, said trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The Grade 2, $750,000 Louisiana Derby is the main event on Saturday’s stakes-filled program in New Orleans.

“Mr. Z is getting on the Lukas Express tomorrow morning, driven by D. Wayne himself,” the trainer said of travel arrangements. “We’re going to Louisiana!”

Mr. Z worked in company in the first set Tuesday, breezing in 50.40 seconds on a track rated fast. He was situated outside of his mate and, nearing the wire, overtook his company to finish a length best.

Mr. Z worked without blinkers, as he has been since running a close third in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn. Lukas said the horse will take blinkers off for the Louisiana Derby. Mr. Z ran without blinkers in his first five races – including in his second-place finish to Carpe Diem in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last fall – and with them in his last five.

“We feel like it’s helped him relax a little bit,” Lukas said of removing blinkers. “It may give us a new dimension in the race.”

Lukas said Kent Desormeaux has the mount on Mr. Z, who races for Zayat Stables.