Fair Grounds Kentucky Derby Prep: Louisiana Derby Analysis

Beyond Forte, the Kentucky Derby picture has been begging for a star. Instant Coffee looks to stamp himself as the main contender with a win in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

Fair Grounds- Race 1

Post: 12:00 PM CT; $100k Crescent City Derby going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 8

• #8 LATE SEPTEMBER (5-1) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #5 ALLNIGHT MOONLIGHT (9-5) has to be respected going out for the combination of Faucheux and Geroux.
• #7 MANGUM (6-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 BENOIT (7-2) runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.

Selections: 8 – 5 – 7 – 1

Fair Grounds- Race 2

Post: 12:30 PM CT; $75k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #5 KING'S GLORY (4-1) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #4 CASTLEWARDEN (5-2) debuts here and has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Geroux.
• #1 COACHES MEETING (10-1) will be in the mix early and if a pace doesn’t materialize could be able to hang on late.
• #6 HARBOUR BRIDGE (5-1) has the pedigree to be a major player in this type of race.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 1 – 6

Fair Grounds- Race 3

Post: 1:00 PM CT; $100k Crescent City Oaks going 1 mile 70 yards on dirt; Entries: 7

• #2 FREE DROP MADDY (7-5) looks best here. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #4 GUITAR WOMAN (5-1) could get the right setup in this race.
• #1 ALPINE MIST (7-2) has to be respected going out for the combination of Garcia and Del-Cid.
• #5 OLIVIA G (4-1) isn't without hope. She could get the right setup in this race.

Selections: 2 – 4 – 1 – 5

Fair Grounds- Race 4

Post: 1:30 PM CT; $100k Costa Rising S. going about 5 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 16

• #4 BERTIE'S GALAXY (6-1) gets the top selection. He should be part of the early pace in this spot. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #1 YANKEE SEVEN (9-2) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #8 BIG CHOPPER (7-2) should be in the first flight and poised for a late run at the tiring pace setters.
• #15 MY PAL MATTIE (12-1) has races good enough to beat this group.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 8 – 15

Fair Grounds- Race 5

Post: 2:00 PM CT; $75k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 9

• #6 MERLAZZA (9-5) is the top pick. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Geroux. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #2 STELLAR LADY (9-2)shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance.
• #5 BRU NA BOINNE (9-2) seems to fit well enough here. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #9 HUNTLEIGH (5-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 5 – 9

Fair Grounds- Race 6

Post: 2:30 PM CT; $75k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 14

• #5 TWIN MISCHIEF (7-2) should improve off the first start and looks best here. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #12 ANGORA DEB (5-1) will need to work out a trip but could be a major factor.
• #1 PERFECT WISH (10-1) has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #8 CONCEPTUALIZE (4-1) debuts here for top connections and gets respect on the morning line.

Selections: 5 – 12- 1 – 8

Fair Grounds- Race 7

Post: 3:00 PM CT; $75k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 14

• #1 ORIGAMI GIRL (12-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #6 SWEET CHABLIS (4-1) goes out for the Calhoun barn and gets Gutierrez in the irons.
• #14 MYSTICAL FIRE (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She makes sense on speed figures.
• #12 CORSINI (8-1) should improve off the first start and should be competitive in this spot. She is well bred for this spot.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 14- 12

Fair Grounds- Race 8

Post: 3:32 PM CT; $100k Tom Benson Memorial S. going about 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 10

• #9 NEW YEAR'S EVE (5-1) is the top pick. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 ADVENTURING (2-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #8 SHE CAN'T SING (9-2) seems to fit well enough here. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #6 DIDIA (3-1) fits this group well enough, but the price is a bit short.

Selections: 9 – 1 – 8 – 6

Fair Grounds- Race 9

Post: 4:04 PM CT; $500k New Orleans Classic S. Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 8

• #3 WEST WILL POWER (2-1) looks best here. He will likely be out on or near the lead and will look to hold off the charge to the wire.
• #2 ART COLLECTOR (8-5) has the top overall power rating in the group. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #8 PIONEER OF MEDINA (9-2) is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #5 RATTLE N ROLL (10-1) may benefit from a hot pace up front.

Selections: 3 – 2 – 8 – 5

Fair Grounds- Race 10

Post: 4:36 PM CT; $300k Muniz Memorial Classic S. Presented by Horse Racing Nation going about 1 1/8 miles on turf; Entries: 10

• #1 ATONE (5-2) gets the top selection. He looks to be the class of the field.
• #6 TWO EMMYS (3-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #5 SPOOKY CHANNEL (9-2) has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #7 ANOTHER MYSTERY (6-1) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 5 – 7

Fair Grounds- Race 11

Post: 5:08 PM CT; $400k Fair Grounds Oaks Presented by Fasig-Tipton going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 5

• #3 PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS (8-5) is the top pick. She shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #5 HOOSIER PHILLY (2-1) should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #4 THE ALYS LOOK (2-1) makes sense on speed figures. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #2 CHRISTIAN D'ORO (15-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 4 – 2

Fair Grounds- Race 12

Post: 5:42 PM CT; $1000k Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby going 1 3/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 12

• #2 INSTANT COFFEE (2-1) looks best here. He has the top overall power rating in the group. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #9 TAPIT'S CONQUEST (10-1) is a price horse and has races good enough to beat this group. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #11 JACE'S ROAD (12-1) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end. The speed figures fit well enough
• #3 CURLY JACK (12-1) has run against some decent fields ahead of this effort and could be well prepared to outrun the odds.

Selections: 2 – 9 – 11- 3

Fair Grounds- Race 13

Post: 6:15 PM CT; $75k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 13

• #9 AZTEC GEM (9-2) gets the top selection. He has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #3 STEAUXLIT (4-1) has races good enough to beat this group. This one runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #5 MALAKI EMPIRE (5-1) should improve off the first start and has to be respected going out for the combination of Camejo and Saez.
• #7 MACHO BEANIE (9-2) comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 9 – 3 – 5 – 7

Fair Grounds- Race 14

Post: 6:40 PM CT; $75k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 13

• #9 G'WILDCAT (4-1) is the top pick. He makes sense on speed figures.
• #8 AVAILABLE STAR (6-1) is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #13 WISE ANCHOR (5-1) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #2 X CLOWN (5-1) has races good enough to beat this group.

Selections: 9 – 8 – 13- 2

Fair Grounds- Race 15

Post: 7:05 PM CT; $75k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 13

• #7 LIGHTENING MO (7-2) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. She has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #3 PURSUIT L'HARMONIE (5-1) is well bred for this spot.
• #9 VISIONISTA (15-1) runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #13 STARSNMOTION (8-1)is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.