Risen Star rematch expected in Louisiana Derby

Entries for the eight-stakes March 24 card, headlined by the $1 million Louisiana Derby, will be taken on March 17, and as of Wednesday, Fair Grounds racing officials had a core of eight likely runners for the local derby.

Heading the expected field is the California shipper My Boy Jack, who won the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park last out for Keith Desormeaux, a Louisiana native who for years made Fair Grounds his winter base. Also expected to be entered are Bravazo and Snapper Sinclair, the one-two finishers – separated by a nose – in the Risen Star Stakes last month. Noble Indy, who was third in the Risen Star while making his stakes debut, also is likely to run back for trainer Todd Pletcher.

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Also expected to be entered are Retirement Fund, who has been working in company with Snapper Sinclair for trainer Steve Asmussen; recent Fair Grounds allowance winner Dark Templar as well as the horse that was second to him, Lone Sailor; and Kentucky Club, a stablemate of Bravazo based at Oaklawn Park for trainer Wayne Lukas who could function, should he actually start, as a pacemaker for his more talented barnmate.

The Grade 2, $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks could have a shorter field than the derby, even with Monomoy Girl, the impressive winner of the Rachel Alexandra Stakes last month at Fair Grounds, passing the race in favor of the Grade 1 Ashland next month at Keeneland. Expected to be entered are Classy Act, who was second in the Rachel Alexandra, as well as her Bret Calhoun-trained stablemate Patrona Margarita, fourth making her first start after a long layoff in the Rachel Alexandra. Wonder Gadot and Chocolate Martini are probable entrants, while America’s Tale is possible.

◗ The Friday feature is race 7, a first-level allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option open to 3-year-old fillies and carded for one mile and 70 yards on dirt. Costa Del Sol would be a fairly implausible winner, but the other five in the race – Luna, Haynesfest, Upset Brewing, Memorial Drive, and Lesley May – all have a claim.