Kentucky Derby Prep Race - Louisiana Derby

by Bodog Racebook | Mar 21 2011

The $1M Gr. 2 Louisiana Derby will take place on Saturday, March 26 at Fair Grounds Race Course and has attracted a large field of 13. Among the top contenders for this 1 1/8 mile Kentucky Derby prep race are Mucho Macho Man, Machen and Elite Alex.

Currently eighth on the graded stakes earnings list with $270,000, Mucho Macho Man is all but guaranteed a starting position in the Kentucky Derby. A Kathy Ritvo trainee, Mucho Macho Man kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a tough-luck trip in the Gr. 3 Holy Bull Stakes on Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park that resulted in a fifth-place finish. Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream Team 1 Racing, Mucho Macho Man bounced back with a solid win at Fair Grounds  in the Gr. 2 Risen Star Stakes less than a month later on Feb. 19, demonstrating his ability to go 1 1/16 miles against strong competition. Rajiv Maragh will be aboard the son of Macho Uno, who drew post 5 for Saturday’s race.

At 7-2 odds is Machen, a son of Distorted Humor, who will be breaking from post 7. In his most recent outing, he was fourth behind Mucho Macho Man in the Risen Star Stakes; prior to that, he was an allowance race winner at Fair Grounds by an impressive 5 lengths on Jan. 30. This lightly raced colt has earned $58,800 from three career starts and has a record of 2-0-0; the Neil Howard trainee fired a bullet work on March 15 at Fair Grounds, going 5 furlongs in 59.60. Edgar Prado will be aboard for Courtlandt Farms.

Elite Alex, who was scratched from the Gr. 2 Rebel Stakes on March 19 in favor of this race, is also a leading contender. The son of Afleet Alex enters the Louisiana Derby off a third-place showing in the Gr. 3 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 21. Calvin Borel will be in the irons on Saturday’s race and the duo, at 6-1 odds, will be breaking from post 12. The Canadian-bred Elite Alex has earned $55,300 from three career starts and is 1-1-1; he posted a 5-furlong breeze timed in 1:00.80 at Oaklawn Park on March 20 in preparation.

Nacho Business, Pants on Fire, Nehro, Mavericking, Liondrive, Majestic Harbor, Le Mans, Wilkinson, Left and Populist Politics round out the rest of the entries.

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