Tipsheet: 2025 Louisiana Derby
John Hancock winning the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs (Photo by SV Photography)
March 20th, 2025
A strong field of 10 will travel 1 3/16 miles on the Fair Grounds dirt in Saturday’s lucrative, $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2). The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 100–50-25-15-10 basis.
Louisiana Derby Picks
- #1 John Hancock
- #5 Caldera
- #6 Built
- #7 Vassimo
Louisiana Derby Wagers
Louisiana Derby Contenders
#1 JOHN HANCOCK (7-2): Unbeaten Brad Cox trainee has displayed a lot of ability and heart from two career attempts and gets the rail as the potential one to beat today. The chestnut son of Constitution has yet to be headed in his lifetime and could be controlling speed from the rail. Flavien Prat coming in to retain the mount is a major positive.
#2 CHUNK OF GOLD (8-1): Ethan West pupil put in a solid late run to be second in the Risen Star (G2) behind a dominant winner in his debut on the dirt and gets a look as a top-three contender in the field. The gray colt has a good turn of foot in a field where the pace might be solid, and he will be guided home by Jareth Loveberry.
#3 TIZTASTIC (8-1): Consistent sort from the Steve Asmussen shedrow was an even fifth in the Rebel S. (G2) behind a strong top duo most recently and will come running in the lane under Joel Rosario. Talented Tiz the Law colt has four dirt route races under his belt and will be as fit as any runner in the cast.
#4 YINZER (12-1): Second from the Asmussen barn looked good in graduating on the oval most recently, but the expensive son of Twirling Candy will need a major step forward to challenge this field. The bay colt has good gate presence and will be forcing the action from the opening bell beneath Ben Curtis.
#5 CALDERA (5-1): Rapidly improving sort from the D. Wayne Lukas barn was game in defeat in the Sunland Park Derby while making his stakes debut and looms large with any kind of improvement off of that effort. The $500,000 son of Liam’s Map has really moved forward since having blinkers added two back, and I don’t expect the colt to have any issue with the distance today. He comes in with a pair of bullet morning moves and will have Tyler Gaffaliuone up.
#6 BUILT (4-1): Hard Spun colt has been consistently good this campaign and trainer Wayne Catalano will equip the sophomore with blinkers for the initial time. The Kentucky-bred bay bagged the Gun Runner S. (G3) on the strip and was a narrow second in the Lecomte S. (G3) locally, so a top-three finish is well within his reach under Jose Ortiz.
#7 VASSIMO (12-1): Todd Pletcher pupil stayed on to be fourth behind a runaway victor in the Risen Star (G2) and is another who will don blinkers for the initial time. The Nyquist colt was 2-for-2 prior to his latest, and he could be dangerous throughout if he takes to the hood going on with Irad retaining the mount.
#8 FURIO (12-1): Speedy sort from the barn of Joe Sharp was second in an allowance tilt locally in his route bow and will go long for the second time today. The son of McKinzie surely has potential, but I’m not sure he’s ready to take down a field of this caliber at this stage of his development. Luis Saez inherits the ride.
#9 INSTANT REPLAY (6-1): Maximum Security three-year-old rallied to a huge allowance victory from off the pace in his local debut in advance of Saturday and has appeal from off the pace for Kenny McPeek. The bay homebred has progressed steadily leading up to his first run with stakes foes, and if the pace is fast and contested, then the sophomore could be a player in the lane with Florent Geroux in the stirrups.
#10 HYPNUS (10-1): Second from the McPeek barn was a smart debut winner in a route race on the grounds which preceded an unplaced effort in the Rebel S. (G2) most recently. The bay son of top sire Into Mischief is bred to be a real good one, but he will need a big step forward to make the frame from the outside post slot in this endeavor. Brian Hernandez, Jr. has the assignment.
