Oaklawn Park: Titletown Five breezes for Louisiana Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Titletown Five is set for Saturday’s Louisiana Derby after breezing a half-mile in 48.80 seconds Wednesday at his Oaklawn base. He was scheduled to ship to Fair Grounds on Thursday, according to his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas.

Titletown Five worked in the second set after the renovation break, with Oaklawn’s head clocker, Jim Hamilton, carrying him through an opening quarter in 25 seconds and a final quarter in 23.80 seconds. The work was achieved under wraps, with exercise rider Rudy Quevedo aboard. Jon Court has the mount in the Louisiana Derby.

“It was a nice work,” Lukas said. “He was very much within himself.”

Titletown Five had been pointed for the Sunland Derby, but his connections decided instead to target the Louisiana Derby in part because it gave the horse time for an additional work. Titletown Five is making his second start of the year Saturday, off a runner-up finish in the Gazebo at six furlongs at Oaklawn on March 2. Last fall at Churchill Downs, the horse won a maiden special weight sprint with a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

Titletown Five races for a partnership that includes Hall of Fame football players Paul Hornung and Willie Davis.

Texas Bling, the fourth-place finisher in the Rebel now being pointed for the Arkansas Derby, also breezed here Wednesday, going seven furlongs in 1:26.20. Jockey Calvin Borel was aboard and will have the mount in the Arkansas Derby, said trainer Danele Durham.