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The $1,000,000 G2 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds today is set to test the endurance of a strong field of ten at 1 1/8 mi. In post one, Bravazo hopes to repeat his performance in the Risen Star Stakes last month, when he edged out Snapper Sinclair in a tough duel down the stretch. Bravazo will have Gary Stevens riding, while Jose Ortiz will be aboard Snapper Sinclair out of post seven. Jockey, Kent Desormeux, will be returning to his home state to ride My Boy Jack out of post nine, who won the G3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn in impressive fashion by 4 1/2 lengths on Feb. 19. After winning his first two races, Noble Indy had a third place finish in his first stakes race in the Risen Star, behind Snapper Sinclair and Bravazo; he will be looking to build on that effort with John Valezquez in the saddle. The sleeper in the race is Dark Templar, who has shown an affinity for the Fair Grounds track, where he has not finished worse than 3rd there in his last three, while winning his last. Florent Geroux will be riding the son of Tapit, who certainly has the pedigree to go the 1 1/8 mi. The Handicap Wizard is signaling this will be a close race, favoring My Boy Jack slightly over Bravazo, followed by Snapper Sinclair.

On paper, the $900K Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park this Saturday appears to be a race that will be decided by whether Baffert trained, Solomini, after a three-month layoff can regain the form that propelled him to finish no worse than second in three G1 races toward the end of last year, including a win in the Los Alamos Futurity in December, in which he defeated McKenzie by ¾ of a length. Other than Solomini, Sporting Chance and Combatant, there is not a lot of class in this race. Sporting Chance has one G1 victory, coming in the Hopeful Stakes last September at Saratoga, albeit at 7f. The horse finished 3^rd his last time out in the G3 Southwest Stakes in February, when he was beaten by 7 lengths. Son of Scat Daddy, Combatant, has been competitive in his last three starts in stakes company, getting three 2^nd place finishes, including one in the Southwest. But his only win was in his maiden race at Churchill last October. As the second favorite, Pletcher trained, Magnum Moon, is making his third start and the second at two turns, after winning his first two races.  If there is going to be a surprise in the race, it may be with Title Ready in post one, who has two victories in his last three races, including a win by nearly four lengths in his last at the same 1 1/16 mi. distance as the Rebel. Another horse, long-shot, Pryor, has shown good progression in his four starts, winning his maiden in his last at 1 mi. at Oaklawn by 6 lengths, in which he went wire-to-wire. With a 41% winning estimate, the Handicap Wizard is picking Solomini to win, followed by Magnum Moon and Title Ready.

Having the horses that are number #1 and #2 in the Kentucky Derby futures wagering both entered, the $400K San Felipe Stakes at San Anita is shaping up to be a fireworks show. Out of post one, Bolt d’Oro is making his fifth start, with two G1 victories already under his belt, including a lights-out performance in the Front Runner last October at San Anita, when he won by almost 8 lengths over 1 1/16 mi. Bolt d’Oro will have his hands full with McKinzie in post 4, who put in his best effort so far in the G3 Sham Stakes at San Anita in early January, clocking at 1:36.58 for the mile in a three-length victory. Race announcer, Michael Wrona, aptly described the performances as “domineering”. The one question for the horse is what his form will be after a two-month layoff. The Handicap Wizard gives the edge to McKinzie, thanks to a substantial speed advantage, while Bolt d’Oro is compensated by the higher winning percentage. Post time for race 6 is 4:53 p.m. PST.