While Track Phantom and Hall of Fame worked five furlongs together on March 3 at Fair Grounds, the two Steve Asmussen-trained colts may or may not be racing together March 23 in the $1 million Louisiana Derby. Track Phantom, winner of the Gun Runner and Lecomte Stakes during this Fair Grounds meet but most recently second to Sierra Leone in the Feb. 17 Risen Star, has been pointed at the Louisiana Derby since he showed connections he’d come out of the Risen Star in good physical condition. Track Phantom, with those two recent stakes wins atop his résumé, was a 3-1 shot in the Risen Star, while Hall of Fame, merely coming off a second-start maiden win, was 7-2. Held in high regard, Hall of Fame didn’t run to expectations, checking in seventh. Nonetheless, Asmussen and the colt’s owners are eschewing allowance-race options, including a first-level dirt route in the Fair Grounds condition book for March 13. “I was very happy with his work,” Asmussen said. “Don’t know where he’s going yet, but it’ll be a stake.” Asmussen said Hall of Fame was more relaxed in the March 3 breeze than he’d been in workouts last fall and earlier this winter. Hall of Fame raced on a fast pace in his maiden win, which produced a strong 94 Beyer Speed Figure, but in the slow-paced risen Risen Star, he found himself trapped behind and among rivals while racing over a sloppy surface. At this stage of his career, Hall of Fame, by Gun Runner, probably would prefer a free-running trip. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Track Phantom had things his way in the Risen Star, setting a slow pace but was still unable to contain late-running Sierra Leone, who bested him by a half-length. Track Phantom improved through last fall but his last four Beyers have ranged between 88 and 90, hinting the colt hit a plateau. “I had a lot of faith in him, and we got outrun with everything in our favor” in the Risen Star, Asmussen said. “It’s within him to run better than that.” Risen Star winner Sierra Leone is headed to the Blue Grass, as is another Fair Grounds-based colt, the Kenny McPeek-trained Lat Long, most recently an improved third in the Jan. 24 Lecomte. Lat Long worked March 3, going five furlongs in 1:02.40, while his McPeek-trained stablemate Mystik Dan went a half in 48.40 the same day. Mystik Dan, sharp winner of the Feb. 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, remains on target for the Arkansas Derby, but McPeek said Common Defense, a fine second to Blue Grass hopeful Timberlake in the Feb. 24 Rebel, will run in the Louisiana Derby with Brian Hernandez Jr. riding. McPeek also has Risen Star eighth-place finisher Real Men Violin aimed at the Louisiana Derby. Meanwhile, trainer Brad Cox said Wednesday that Catching Freedom, third in the Risen Star, is all but certain to start in the Louisiana Derby under Flavien Prat. Nash, second in the Lecomte, third in the Gun Runner, and second to the talented Tuscan Sky in a Feb. 17 Fair Grounds allowance race, also could wind up in the Louisiana Derby, Cox said. Nash and Catching Freedom both worked March 3. Honor Marie gallops out strong Kentucky Jockey Club winner Honor Marie had his first work on Feb. 29 since finishing fifth in the Risen Star, going four furlongs in 48.60 while working inside the fast debut maiden winner Drip, his usual breeze partner. While the Oaklawn Park-based Rafael Bejarano has ridden Honor Marie in his four starts, Florent Geroux was up for the recent drill. :: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!  Recorded as a half-mile, the drill included an energetic gallop-out down the backstretch, where Honor Marie, outworked to the wire by the flashier Drip, finished up strongly. “It was pretty much a picture-perfect work for him,” said trainer Whit Beckman. “He’s never been the prettiest mover, but the longer he goes, the stronger he looks. He came out of that last race so good. I’m really excited about him.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.