Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds Oaks Go Through Cox Barn

[Wandering Eyes]

A year after recording a GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby-GII Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks double with Catching Freedom and Tarifa, trainer Brad Cox will saddle the morning-line favorites in both races Saturday.

The rail-drawn John Hancock (Constitution), a game wire-to-wire winner over next-out GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty (Speightstown) in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 8, will put his two-for-two record on the line in the Louisiana Derby. The WinStar Farm and CHC, Inc. colorbearer is the 7-2 program favorite.

The stretch-running Gary and Mary West homebred Instant Replay (Maximum Security) enters for Cox following a breakthrough victory in a local optional claimer Feb. 17.

The field of 10 also includes: GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes two-three-four Chunk of Gold (Preservationist), Built (Hard Spun) and Vassimo (Nyquist); and narrow Sunland Park Derby runner-up Caldera (Liam's Map). Both Built and Vassimo will be adding blinkers.

The Louisiana Derby offers 200 points (100-50-25-15-10) on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby.

“We feel they both deserve a shot at getting to the Kentucky Derby,” Cox said. “We've been fortunate to win this race twice and in two different ways. Wells Bayou on the front end and coming from well off the pace with Catching Freedom. The track tends to play fair, and our colts each have a different running style. We feel we're set up with two big opportunities.”

The five-for-five Godolphin homebred and 4-5 Fair Grounds Oaks morning-line favorite Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), meanwhile, kicked off her sophomore campaign for Cox with a runaway win in the GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes Feb. 15. The Fair Grounds Oaks carries 200 (100-50-25-15-10) GI Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.

“She's just different,” said Cox, who has won three previous renewals of the Fair Grounds Oaks. “The word I always use is class.”

The stacked 12-race Louisiana Derby program also includes the return of GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and champion 3-year-old colt 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GII New Orleans Classic Stakes; and a deep field of 12, headed by GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes winner Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro), in the GII Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes.

Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone walking the shedrow this morning at @fairgroundsnola!

He returns to the races TOMORROW!

You can bet the New Orleans Classic with TwinSpires. pic.twitter.com/DBXbezI7O7

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) March 21, 2025

Derby and Oaks Points Up for Grabs at Turfway

Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Poster (Munnings), a very strong closing third going against the track in his sophomore debut in the Sam F. Davis, will make his first start over the synthetic for trainer Eoin Harty in Saturday's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park, which offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale. The 3-1 morning-line favorite followed a pair of wins on grass with a narrow decision in last year's GII Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct.

Poster | Sarah Andrew

The overflow field of 13 also includes: California Burrito (Army Mule), Baby Max (Maximus Mischief) and Maximum Promise (Maximum Security), the top three finishers from the local John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Feb. 22.

Led by front-running Cincinnati Trophy Stakes winner White Rocks (Frosted), a wide-open field will line up for the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks one race earlier on the card. It awards 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks to the top five finishers.

Saturday's graded action also includes the GIII TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway, GIII Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park and GIII San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita.

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