Just a few days ago, barely more than a handful of horses were committed to
Trained by Kathy Ritvo, Mucho Macho Man first flashed promise when finishing
Mucho Macho Man made his sophomore debut in the January 30 Holy Bull S. (G3)
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Besides getting the opportunity to stretch back out to two turns in the 1
1/16-mile Risen Star, Mucho Macho Man also took the blinkers off, an equipment
change that might have helped him relax early. The strapping bay responded by
powering to a 1 1/2-length victory. A repeat of that performance would make him
difficult to beat Saturday, especially since his nearest pursuers in the Risen
Star are absent. Runner-up Santiva (Giant’s Causeway) is aiming for the April 16
Blue Grass S. (G1), while third-placer Rogue Romance (Smarty Jones) has been
knocked off the Derby trail by injury.
Rajiv Maragh, who picked up the mount from seriously-injured rider Eibar Coa,
will be back in the saddle when Mucho Macho Man breaks from post 5.
Risen Star fourth-placer Machen is eligible to improve. A commanding winner
of his first two starts, the Howard trainee showed his relative inexperience in
his stakes debut, and only third lifetime outing, in the Risen Star. Machen
rallied with a strong bid on the far turn, but didn’t sustain it down the
stretch and crossed the wire 4 1/4 lengths adrift of Mucho Macho Man. Machen has
trained forwardly in the interim, firing a five-furlong bullet in :59 3/5 here
on March 15, and is well drawn in post 7. The 7-2 second choice on the morning
line, he picks up the services of Edgar Prado for the Louisiana Derby.
Howard’s other entrant, Wilkinson, has been freshened since his narrow score
Likely pacesetter Pants on Fire opened his three-year-old campaign with a
Pants on Fire is part of a coupled entry with his stablemate NACHO BUSINESS (Rahy),
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The Oaklawn-based Elite Alex, the 6-1 third choice on the morning line, was a
late addition to the Louisiana Derby field. Originally entered in Saturday’s
Rebel S. (G2) at Oaklawn, he was scratched after drawing post 10. Unfortunately,
the Tim Ritchey charge wound up in post 12 at Fair Grounds. The well-regarded
bay is past due for a change in luck, since he just failed to win a January 15
allowance/optional claimer after a terrible break, and he was hung out wide en
route to his third in the February 21 Southwest S. (G3). Three-time Kentucky
Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel has said that Elite Alex reminds him of 2007
Derby hero Street Sense, and hopefully the colt will now have an opportunity to
show what he can do.
Left has been somewhat left in the shadow of his ultra-impressive stablemate
from the Al Stall Jr. barn, Bind (Pulpit), who will make his second start in
Saturday’s
4TH
race at Fair Grounds. But Left is no slouch, as his two-for-two record implies.
He overcame a wide trip around both turns to win a turf maiden here on January
29, and followed up with a comfortable victory over stablemate Sour (Lemon Drop
Kid) in a February 26 allowance/optional claimer on the dirt. Jesse Campbell,
who has guided the gelding in both of his starts, will try to make it three in a
row. Left’s cause wasn’t helped by getting post 11, though.
Rounding out the Louisiana Derby field are MAVERICKING (Empire Maker), third
in the grassy Grindstone S. in his latest; MAJESTIC HARBOR (Rockport Harbor), a
6 1/4-length maiden romper at Fair Grounds last time; the uncoupled Steve
Asmussen shippers NEHRO (Mineshaft), who exits a resounding maiden score at
Oaklawn, and LE MANS (War Front), fourth in his two tries at Santa Anita;
LIONDRIVE (Lion Tamer), 10th in the Risen Star; and Louisiana-bred stakes winner
POPULIST POLITICS (Don’t Get Mad), who is cross-entered to Friday’s Crescent
City Derby.