Louisiana Derby Day Stakes Notebook — McPeek, West, Catalano, Beckman, Sharp, Delhomme & Atras discuss the merits of their Louisiana Derby Day contenders
New Orleans, La (Jan. 24, 2025) – The backside is buzzing as the 2024-25 meet’s closing weekend has arrived at Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots. With 8 stakes on the Saturday card featuring the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) and Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), we caught up with the connections of some of the major contenders.
Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2)
Trainer Kenny McPeek on Hypnus, who was 7th in the Rebel (G2), with a troubled trip: “At Oaklawn, he got stopped. I tell Brian (Hernandez, Jr) to take his chances on the rail. I would rather gamble on that than go 8 wide, and Brian usually gets through. I think (Hypnus) has a big chance going 1 3/16 miles. I think he is a horse who has a chance to really leap forward.”
Trainer Wayne Catalano on Gun Runner winner and Lecomte (G3) runner up, Built: “He’s doing great, thank God. Jose (Ortiz) has breezed him with the blinkers on. It’s going to do what it’s supposed to–keep his concentration forward. He’s been just messing around a little bit. They think they don’t have horse, then they push the button and they’ve got horse and he takes off on them. That’s why he’s moved too early a couple times.”
On Built’s ability to handle the extra distance of the Louisiana Derby, Catalano continued, “Jury is still out for everybody (in terms of getting the 1 3/16 miles), I think we’ll be alright. He’s got the pedigree to do it.”
Trainer Ethan West on Risen Star (G2) runner up, Chunk of Gold: “He got here on Monday. He loves the track here at Fair Grounds and was moving well in his gallop Wednesday morning. Though we’ve had him at Turfway, he’s a dirt horse. Since the Risen Star he’s put on weight, definitely moved forward. We’re confident he can get the distance and really couldn’t be more excited about how he is doing.”
Chunk of Gold is West’s first horse on the Kentucky Derby trail.
Trainer Joe Sharp on Furio: “I think we’ve gotten him straightened out. When he got loose in the stretch (February Allowance race) he was lugging in. We want him to relax. When we’re working him behind company, he relaxes nicely. But he is so quick away from the gates, so we’ll see where he finds himself (on Saturday).”
Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks (G2)
Trainer Whit Beckman on Untapable winner, Her Laugh: “She is doing well. We will just let Irad (Ortiz, Jr) get her in a comfortable spot, I am not sure what the pace scenario is going to be. I don’t necessarily want to be on the lead, but that should be fine if she puts herself there. I would expect a forward trip.”
Beckman also provided an update on another Kentucky Oaks hopeful, Simply Joking:
“She is here (at Fair Grounds) and doing well. She is heading to the Fantasy (at Oaklawn Park on March 29th).
Trainer Kenny McPeek on Rachel Alexandra (G2) runner up, Gowells Delight: “She is doing super, she is going to have to step up. The favorite would probably have to throw a bad race (for her to win), but my filly is doing great.”
Additional stakes notes:
Jake Delhomme, Former Pro Bowl NFL quarterback and owner of Touchuponastar with Set-hut LLC, on the decision to enter the New Orleans Classic Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard (G2) this year (also cross entered in Sunday’s Star Guitar stakes): “A couple of reasons. One, in essence it’s in our backyard. Two, he’s doing extremely well. Three, the last race the other horse went out with him and it seemed like he loved to engage and go that fast. He kept going and Timmy (Thornton) felt like that was his best race. So he just might want to be rolling along on the front end. Not exactly sure which way we’re going to go yet but wanted to enter in both and then make my decision. Pretty certain this year is tougher than last year to say the least, but we’ll see how it all plays out. A few of those horses have also been entered at Oaklawn (Kinetic & Maycocks Bay) so kind of waiting to see how it all shakes out.”
Trainer Rob Atras on Tom Benson Memorial contender, Way to Be Marie: “I thought she ran really well last time. She had a bit of bad luck in her race prior with the Pago Hop coming off the grass, but that’s the way it goes. We were happy with that effort last time and looking forward to what she’ll do in the Benson.”
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