The Larry Jones-trained FRIESAN FIRE (A.P. Indy) rates as the 5-2 favorite on
the morning line for Saturday’s $600,000
Louisiana Derby (G2),
where he will attempt a clean sweep of the major three-year-old stakes at Fair
Grounds.
Victorious in the Lecomte S. (G3) and Risen Star S. (G3) in his first two
outings of the year, Friesan Fire drilled five furlongs in a bullet :58 1/5
Monday morning at Fair Grounds. His time was the fastest of 29 at the distance
on the fast track.
“The horse is just getting very, very good right now,” Jones said. “He did it
without being asked.”
Regular rider Gabriel Saez, who was aboard for Monday’s bullet work, will guide the bay from post 9 in a 10-horse field.
Friesan Fire will renew rivalry with several familiar
faces, while meeting three new shooters — Southern California invader PAPA CLEM
(Smart Strike), Florida shipper FREE COUNTRY (Big Country) and the reappearing
TERRAIN (Sky Mesa).
Papa Clem exits a gallant runner-up effort to Pioneerof the Nile (Empire
Maker) in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride. Finishing a
close third was I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even), who went on to rout the field
in this past Saturday’s Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct. If Papa Clem takes to the
dirt half as well as I Want Revenge did, the Gary Stute charge looms as a top
contender. Rafael Bejarano makes the trek to stick with Papa Clem.
Free Country captured his first two starts for Ken McPeek, a Churchill Downs
maiden and a Gulfstream Park allowance, but did not thrive on the Tampa Bay
Downs surface in the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) last time out. Fourth as the 9-5
favorite in that affair, the dark bay will try to make amends beneath a
returning Kent Desormeaux.
Terrain, who has been wintering at Fair Grounds, posted a bullet six-furlong
move in 1:13 3/5 on March 6. Last seen finishing fifth in the Delta Jackpot S.
(G3) in December, the Al Stall Jr. gelding had previously put together a solid
juvenile campaign. Terrain won the Mountaineer Juvenile S. and was promoted to
victory via disqualification in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3).
Moreover, he twice beat Pioneerof the Nile, namely when finishing second to
Square Eddie (Smart Strike) in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and a rallying fourth
to champion Midshipman (Unbridled’s Song) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
Julien Leparoux comes in for the ride.
Friesan Fire defeated the late-running PATENA (Seeking the Gold) by 1 1/2
lengths in the one-mile Lecomte, but a lot has changed for the runner-up in the
interim. Subsequently purchased by IEAH Stables and transferred to Richard
Dutrow’s barn at Gulfstream, Patena will make his first start for his new
connections on Saturday.
Two weeks ago, Dutrow said that he has been “clearing different issues” with the
colt, but that “it all seems to be coming together.”
On Monday, Patena vindicated that assessment by working five furlongs in a
bullet :59 2/5 over Gulfstream’s fast track, tying for the best of 20 trials at
the trip.
“He obviously has a lot of talent,” Dutrow said after Monday’s move, “and
we’re very pleased with what he showed us in his work today. We’re very happy
with him right now.”
Patena, the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, figures to enjoy the added
ground in the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana Derby. Robby Albarado, who rode him in the
Lecomte, will be back in he saddle as he breaks from post 3.
The second- through sixth-place finishers from the Risen Star, contested at
this same distance, are all lining up against Friesan Fire once more.
Risen Star runner-up FLYING PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) ran a terrific race
that day, considering that he broke from post 12, had not raced for nearly five
months, and was making his two-turn debut. The Ralph Nicks pupil was beaten a
total of two lengths by Friesan Fire, and with that experience under his belt,
Flying Pegasus is eligible to turn the tables.
Interestingly, in his final start at two, Flying Pegasus finished second in
the Futurity S. (G2) at Belmont, with Friesan Fire third. John Velazquez comes
in for the mount aboard the colt, who is better drawn in post 5 this time.
Horseman Steve Asmussen will send out UNO MAS (Macho Uno) and SOUL WARRIOR
(Lion Heart). Uno Mas had upset Friesan Fire in a December allowance at Fair
Grounds, but he has not been able to challenge him since, checking in fourth in
the Lecomte and third in the Risen Star. Brian Hernandez Jr. retains the mount.
Soul Warrior, who was last early in the Risen Star, finished well for sixth
despite a problematic trip. Shaun Bridgmohan, aboard for his smart maiden win
over the track in December, will reunite with the Zayat Stables colt.
Each breezed a half-mile at Fair Grounds Monday, with Soul Warrior clocking
:50 1/5 and Uno Mas finishing up in :50 3/5.
NOWHERE TO HIDE (Vindication), fourth in the Risen Star, ships in from
Florida for Nick Zito, while the locally based GIANT OAK (Giant’s Causeway), a
troubled fifth in the Risen Star, will hope for smoother sailing with new rider
James Graham. Two starts back, the Chris Block trainee was a near-miss second to
Beethoven (Sky Mesa) in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2).