Meet the Contenders: 2024 Louisiana Derby
Track Phantom scored a front-running victory in the Lecomte (Photo by Hodges Photography)
March 19th, 2024
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Triple Espresso (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#1 Triple Espresso **
Pro: Has run exclusively on grass to this point but bred to appreciate dirt more.
Con: Seemingly not quite graded quality yet; cross-entered at Turfway on Saturday.
Hall of Fame (Photo by Hodges Photography)
#2 Hall of Fame ****
Pro: Disappointing run in Risen Star (G2) off big maiden win; connections stay positive.
Con: Price will be better this time but might simply be a cut or two below.
Antiquarian (Photo by Hodges Photography)
#3 Antiquarian **
Pro: Steps up in class off gutsy maiden win versus next-out winner on Risen Star Day.
Con: Remains with plenty of upside but must improve considerably in a hurry.
Antiquarian, a @PletcherRacing trainee and TC nominee, broke his maiden on Saturday @fairgroundsnola.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 20, 2024
Click the link below to add him to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts to get notified as he runs on the Road to @KentuckyDerby 150!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/6JSlxYpfbL pic.twitter.com/tdJ9ne1KWF
Agate Road (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#4 Agate Road **
Pro: Versatile colt handled dirt well again when second best in Sam F. Davis (G3).
Con: Tampa race was rather slow, chances probably better in Jeff Ruby (G3) on Saturday.
#9 Agate Road gets his first stakes victory in the G2 Pilgram S. at Belmont for trainer Todd Plecher with @iradortiz aboard! 🏆
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 4, 2023
Next stop: @breederscup!
✈️@repolestable
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ekI1r6jynF
Catching Freedom winning the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Photography)
#5 Catching Freedom ***
Pro: Decent third in the Risen Star after winning two of first three.
Con: Needs to find a bit more to turn the tables on Track Phantom.
The #TwinSpiresTop5 from the holiday weekend racing.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 2, 2024
1️⃣ CATCHING FREEDOM
2️⃣ TUFANI
3️⃣ GIGANTE
4️⃣ NIGHT TIME
5️⃣ DONCHO pic.twitter.com/4Y0Wvem1e7
Turfway Park Racing (Coady Photo/Turfway Park)
#6 Awesome Ruta *
Pro: Exceeded expectations with midpack Risen Star finish at 223-1.
Con: Doesn’t look any stronger on paper here than he did last time.
Honor Marie winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#7 Honor Marie ****
Pro: Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner likely needed season debut in Risen Star; might improve.
Con: Likely needs a strong pace and that’s no guarantee in this field.
KENTUCKY DERBY DREAMING 😉
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) November 25, 2023
HONOR MARIE sweeps around the field to take the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes 🏆
10 points on the road to the @KentuckyDerby 🌹
🎥 @TwinSpires
pic.twitter.com/d5EvBST4yj
Next Level (Photo by Hodges Photography)
#8 Next Level *
Pro: Stoutly bred colt won’t be caught out by the distance.
Con: Appears too slow on paper and last two stakes attempts were poor efforts.
#1 Next Level drops in class and gets blinkers to win R5 at Fair Grounds under David Cohen for trainer Keith Desormeaux! 💪
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 23, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/5ZtnqftVWQ
Real Men Violin breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#9 Real Men Violin ***
Pro: Kentucky Jockey Club runner-up likely better than what he showed in Risen Star.
Con: Jockey Hernandez opts for McPeek stablemate here; Corey Lanerie rides instead.
#4 Real Men Violin gets the job done in the slop in R5 at Churchill Downs under @b_hernandezjr for trainer @kennymcpeek! 🎻
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 29, 2023
The 2-year-old colt went off at 7/1.
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/L5AaWxq5Bt
Common Defense wins at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
#10 Common Defense ***
Pro: Solid try in Rebel (G2) behind the more accomplished Timberlake.
Con: Fear of regression at short price exists, and McPeek barn has struggled here this meet.
Common Defense is progressing in the right direction just in time for the Road to @KentuckyDerby 150 after breaking his maiden @OaklawnRacing on Saturday.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 16, 2024
Add the @KennyMcPeek trainee to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts with the link below ⤵️ https://t.co/gUbkRIbs7C pic.twitter.com/uXIhsRdzcb
Tuscan Gold (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
#11 Tuscan Gold ***
Pro: Fourth to stablemate Sierra Leone first out and cozy maiden winner last time.
Con: Tough spot in which to face winners for the first time.
Only time will tell if Tuscan Gold has the talent to win the @KentuckyDerby.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 5, 2024
But there’s no doubt the bay colt has the pedigree to shine on the first Saturday in May.
Here is your KY Derby Maiden Watch 👀 ⤵️ https://t.co/G7WLaI3jPX
Track Phantom wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
#12 Track Phantom *****
Pro: Best locally based three-year-old has finished or second in three previous preps.
Con: Fair to question whether speedster will be as effective as distances increase.
TRACK PHANTOM has been installed as the 3/1 ML favorite for this year's Grade 2 https://t.co/EynbFb3eBd Louisiana Derby. #FG152
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 18, 2024
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Post Position #12 pic.twitter.com/O8ZOG6eyxU
