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Hoosier Philly relaxed off the pace to win GII Golden Rod; is the Derby or Oaks in the plan? (Coady Photography)
Nominations for Louisiana Derby Preview Day close TONIGHT at midnight CT
Kevin Kilroy/Fair Grounds
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Saturday morning’s worktab was filled with Kentucky Derby and Oaks dreamers. Hoosier Philly fired her second bullet in as many works since returning to Tom Amoss’ barn from her Florida freshening. The undefeated filly breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00.00, the best of 67 runners.
“I liked it,” said Fair Grounds clocker Frank McGoey. “She went solo but started about 12-15 lengths behind another Amoss set and caught them at the wire and galloped out well in front. She’s got a big stride and covers a lot of ground.”
The Rachel Alexandra (G2) presented by Fasig-Tipton has produced nine of the last 26 winners of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
“We had a good work this morning and continue to point toward the Rachel Alexandra,” Amoss said.
Ten promising 3-year-old colts hit the morning track running on Saturday, including five of trainer Brad Cox’s Derby hopefuls. Victory Formation was the sharpest of the five. Making his third morning appearance since winning the Smarty Jones, the son of Tapwrit sizzled through 5 furlongs in 1:00.40, second only to Hoosier Philly. He is undefeated from three starts.
Tapit Shoes and Tapit’s Conquest both went 4 furlongs in 48.80 (7/107) in their first morning work since their allowance race on the “Road to the Derby Day” card.
In his third local work since finishing second to Wildatlanticstorm in the Remington Springboard Mile, Giant Mischiefbreezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 (9/67). Verifying posted the same time in his second work since his allowance win at Oaklawn Park.
All making their first appearance on the worktab since their last race and all breezing 4 furlongs of the other 3-year-old colts on Saturday’s worktab, it was Invulnerable who stole the show. The Joe Sharp trainee fired a bullet, going :47.60–the best of 107 runners at the distance.
Determinedly, the winner of that common allowance race on the Lecomte undercard, breezed 49.20 for Mark Casse (19/107). Exiting the Lecomte, both Denington for Ken McPeek and Confidence Game for Keith Desormeaux breezed, with the former traveling a second faster (:49.00; 13/107) than the latter (50.00 47/107).
The Florida-bred Cagliostro, an impressive maiden winner on the Lecomte Day undercard for Cherie DeVaux, breezed 4 furlongs in 49.60 (29/107).
After finishing a game second to The Alys Look in the Silverbulletday, Chop Chop returned to the morning work tab, logging an easy 4 furlongs in :50.00, ranking 47 of 107.
The Myrtlewood Stakes winner, Key of Life posted her 5th local work for Brad Cox. The 3-year-old filly breezed 4 furlongs in :49.80 (35th of 107).
Nominations for Louisiana Derby Preview Day on Feb. 18 close Saturday night at midnight. The six stakes include the following:
~ $400,000 Risen Star (G2) going 1 -1/8 miles for 3-year-olds
~ $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) going 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies
~ $250,000 Mineshaft (G3) going 1 -1/16 miles for 4-year-olds and up
~ $150,000 Fair Grounds (G3) going 1 -1/8 miles on the turf for 4-year-olds and up
~ $100,000 Al Stall Memorial going 1-1/16 miles on the turf for 4-year-old and up fillies and mares
~ $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes going 5-1/2 furlongs on the turf for 4-year-olds and up
Reach out to Stakes Coordinator Stu Slagle at (504)-948-1111 ext. 1253 to nominate.
