NEW ORLEANS – Although they will take different paths to get there, the top two finishers in Saturday's Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds are set to make their next starts in the Kentucky Derby on May 4, and the beaten favorite, War of Will, still has the Derby in play following a freak incident leaving the gate.
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NEW ORLEANS - War of Will, who finished ninth as the favorite in the Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds, was reported "much improved this morning" on Sunday by his trainer, Mark Casse, who had said Saturday night following the race that War of Will was "off significantly."
"It's pretty clear he strained something," said Casse, who theorized War of Will strained ligaments when he caught his patella. That would be one step removed from a stifle locking up, which would have prevented War of Will from continuing with the race.
NEW ORLEANS – A little more than 48 hours prior to the Louisiana Derby, jockey Gabriel Saez was about as far from the winner’s circle as could be, lying face down in the dirt on the Fair Grounds backstretch Thursday. He had been dislodged from a horse who shied when he got close to the rail, banged into the rail, and sent Saez flying.
“I thought I had broken my elbow,” Saez said Saturday afternoon. “I thought, ‘This is not happening two days before the Derby.’ I thank Jesus. I pray to him every day.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Omaha Beach, who won one of the two divisions of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 16, will return to that track for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 13, while stablemate Extra Hope will be pointed for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.
Trainer Richard Mandella confirmed those plans on Saturday. Omaha Beach and Extra Hope represent Mandella’s chances for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4.
The Kentucky Derby points parade makes a stop in New Mexico on Sunday for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby, led by California shippers Mucho Gusto and Anothertwistafate, and local favorite Hustle Up.
The first four finishers will earn points on a scale of 50-20-10-5.
For those who are not able to make the scene in New Orleans and enjoy the Louisiana Derby festivities on Saturday, they can always rustle up a few po’ boys, dip into a tureen of seafood gumbo, and crank up Dr. John’s greatest hits on the box while they watch War of Will, Country House, and the rest of the fine young animals scramble for a spot in the Kentucky Derby field.
Or they can call Bob Fortus.
NEW ORLEANS – War of Will resides in a stall just down from the tack office where David Carroll works here at Fair Grounds, and Carroll’s desk sits at an angle to where he can keep an eye on War of Will every moment.
Carroll is the top assistant here to Mark Casse, who trains War of Will, and Carroll has overseen his day-to-day training. In the months Carroll has been around War of Will, the colt’s performances and personality have made him a favorite.
“He wants to please you,” Carroll said Thursday morning. “You feel like you can’t let the horse down.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Nolo Contesto, who beat the recent graded stakes winner Omaha Beach in January, is likely to start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, pending a workout on Saturday.
Trainer John Sadler said on Wednesday that the $1 million Santa Anita Derby is under consideration along with the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland or the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, both on April 6.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is debating what course of action to take with Market King, who finished third behind Omaha Beach and champion Game Winner in the second division of the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes last Saturday at Oaklawn.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sure, Harvey Wallbanger was terrific in his last race, but now he’s something of a forgotten horse. Enough has happened since his 29-1 upset in the Feb. 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park to push him back down everyone’s Kentucky Derby lists, and now the late-running colt will have to prove himself all over again as one of the longer shots in the March 30 Florida Derby.