Gold Square LLC's Instant Coffee was tabbed the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $1-million Twinspires Louisiana Derby (G2) Saturday at Fair Grounds.
One of three entrants trained by Brad Cox, the Bolt d'Oro colt won the 1 1/16 mile Lecomte (G3) Jan. 12 at the New Orleans track in his 3-year-old bow and only start this year. He capped his juvenile campaign with victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs. Luis Saez has the call and will ride Instant Coffee from post 2 in the 12-horse field.
The 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby is a qualifying event of the Kentucky Derby (G1), with the top five finishers receiving points on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale toward eligibility for the Louisville classic May 6.
Cox will also send out Risen Star (G2) fourth-place finisher Tapit's Conquest, 10-1, who will break from post 9 with Manny Franco, and Gunner Runner winner Jace's Road, 20-1, who will start from post 11 with Florent Geroux.
Cox and Geroux teamed to win the 2020 edition of the Louisiana Derby with Wells Bayou. Geroux took the 2016 edition with Gun Runner.
Among the chief rivals for Instant Coffee is the Todd Pletcher-trained Kingsbarns, who is undefeated in two starts for Spendthrift Farm and will be making his stakes debut. The Uncle Mo colt won a maiden special weight Jan. 14 at Gulfstream Park and an allowance-optional claiming event Feb. 12 at Tampa Bay Downs. At 6-1 on the morning line, he will start from post 6 with Flavien Prat.
Pletcher has won the Louisiana Derby four times: Noble Indy in 2015, Revolutionary in 2013, Mission Impazible in 2010, and Circular Quay in 2007.
Trainer Ken McPeek's Risen Star runner-up Sun Thunder, a son of leading sire Into Mischief owned by R.T Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine, was fourth in the Southwest (G3) Jan. 28 at Oaklawn where he broke his maiden Dec. 31, his lone win from four outings. Tabbed at 5-1, he will start from post 4 with Brian Hernandez Jr., who won the Louisiana Derby in 2017 with Girvin. McPeek, who captured the 2002 edition with Repent, will also send out Lecomte fourth-place finisher Denington, 12-1.
Trainer Steve Asmussen also has four Louisiana Derby wins and has two entrants this year, both maiden winners: Disarm, 10-1, and Shopper's Revenge, 12-1. Disarm will be ridden by Joel Rosario, who has won the last two editions of the Louisiana Derby, including last year for Asmussen on eventual champion 3-year-old male Epicenter. Asmussen also sent out Louisiana Derby winners Gun Runner in 2017, Pyro in 2008, and Fifty Stars in 2001.
The field for the Louisiana Derby, in post-position order with jockey and morning-line odds:
- Shopper's Revenger, Ricardo Santana Jr., 12-1
- Instant Coffee, Luis Saez, 2-1
- Curly Jack, Edgar Morales, 12-1
- Sun Thunder, Brian Hernandez Jr., 5-1
- Disarm, Joel Rosario, 10-1
- Kingsbarns, Flavien Prat, 6-1
- Cagliostro, Cristian Torres, 12-1
- Single Ruler, David Cohen, 15-1
- Tapit's Conquest, Manny Franco, 10-1
- Denington, Junior Alvarado, 12-1
- Jace's Road, Florent Geroux 12-1
- Baseline Beater, Corey Laneire, 20-1
The post Cox-Trained Instant Coffee Morning-Line Favorite Among Dozen For Louisiana Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
