Tom's Ready looking to rebound in Louisiana Derby

NEW ORLEANS – Tom's Ready came out of the Risen Star Stakes in good shape, said trainer Dallas Stewart, who is looking past the colt's seventh-place finish and looking forward to the Louisiana Derby on March 26.

"That's where we're pointing,'' Stewart said, though he mentioned that other options, such as the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, and the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, are available.

In the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 20, Tom's Ready had a wide trip and faded in the stretch. He finished 13 lengths behind the winner, Gun Runner.

"The rail was fast,'' Stewart said. "He was too close to the pace. It just didn't work out.''

Stewart said that Tom's Ready had run well in his first two Fair Grounds races, including the Grade 3 Lecomte, in which he finished second to Mo Tom. Despite the subpar performance by Tom's Ready in the Risen Star, Stewart is eager to give him another chance to show that he belongs in the Kentucky Derby.

"He's just got to be right,'' Stewart said. "We're just hoping the next spot gets him there.''

The first workout by Tom's Ready since the Risen Star – a half-mile Thursday in 48.60 seconds – pleased his trainer. "He did it easy, came back good,'' Stewart said.

Forevamo giving positive signs to Stall

Forevamo, who finished second in the Risen Star at 40-1, has been sending out positive vibes since that race, trainer Al Stall Jr. said.

"He's certainly picked his head up over the last couple months,'' Stall said. "It's palpable. All the ones I've led over there for the Louisiana Derby, this one has the best foundation by far.''

Stall trained three in-the-money finishers in the Louisiana Derby: Ketchikan, who was second in 2007; My Pal Charlie, second in 2008; and Terrain, third in 2009.