 Fifty Stars and Donnie Meche after winning the 2001 Louisiana Derby. |
Dateline: 03/11/01
Completing this weekend of early Derby prep races was the 89th edition of the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Risen Star Stakes winner Dollar Bill took on Santa Catalina Stakes winner Millennium Wind, highly-touted Florida invader Hero's Tribute, and a host of other Triple Crown hopefuls. Jockey Chris McCarron had to choose between Dollar Bill and Millennium Wind for the race, and chose the latter while Pat Day got the call for Dollar Bill.
When the gate opened, Gracie's Dancer was immediately sent to the front to set the early pace. Under jockey Alex Jimenez at odds of 38-1, he set early fractions of 23.44 and 46.37. 88-1 shot Unreal Party ran with him most of the way around. Millennium Wind, who raced 3 wide the entire trip as the third choice at 2.2-1, tracked behind those two until the midpoint of the far turn when McCarron made his move to the front and the lead after 3/4 of a mile in 1:11.37. The field bunched up at this point, with Pat Day gaining ground along the rail aboard Dollar Bill, the favorite at 1.7-1. However, he was boxed in at the top of the stretch, and clipped heels with the tiring Gracie's Dancer, managing to stay on his feet and continued on. True Concern, the longest shot on the board at almost 103-1, trailed the field early but circled 6 wide and briefly gained the lead in mid stretch until the trio of favorites collared him as he failed to sustain the late rally. Fifty Stars, the 20-1 outsider, was back in 8th early but entering the stretch split horses, got back on the rail, and took off on his more highly-touted rivals to win by 2 lengths over Millennium Wind in a moderate 1:44.78 for the 1 1/16 mile Grade 2 feature. It was a blanket finish for second between Millennium Wind, Hero's Tribute, and Dollar Bill who managed to recover from the near fall and make a very belated rally to the front. The photo indicated that second-placer Millennium Wind was a neck in front of Hero's Tribute who was a head in front of Dollar Bill.
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"We're going to the (Kentucky) Derby," Asmussen said.
"We'll have to see how we get there."
With the win, Fifty Stars became eligible for a $1 million bonus Fair
Grounds has
offered to a horse that wins the Louisiana Derby and the Kentucky Derby.
Lone Star Park also has a $1 million bonus for a horse that wins
the Lone Star Derby and any Triple Crown race; with this in mind
Asmussen may send Fifty Stars to that event, to be run April 7 at Lone
Star Park.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 8 Fifty Stars Meche 43.00 13.40 7.40 7 Millennium Wind McCarron 5.00 4.00 2 Hero's Tribute Chavez 4.00 Winning Time: 1:44.78 $2 Exacta 8-7 176.80 $2 Quinella 8-7 68.00 $2 Trifecta 8-7-2 799.60Results Chart from Equibase
The field goes by the first time with Unreal Party and Gracie's Dancer leading the way.
Coming down the stretch with Fifty starts starting to draw off from Millennium Wind, Hero's Tribute, and Dollar Bill.
At the finish with Fifty Stars all alone out front winning by 2 lengths.
Fifty Stars headed for the winner's circle. His trainer Steve Asmussen said after the race, "Not everyone had a great trip today. We’re just lucky to be the ones standing here right now. In the Lecomte, we made excuses about the distance, and in the Risen Star, it was the pace. But today, even with the rough trip, everything came into play today. Donnie (Meche) gave him a great ride."
Fifty Stars on the way to the track before the race. His jockey Donnie Meche said, "I smooched to him and he went right through it. I let him run like he wanted and he finished like I wanted to. Every time I ride this horse he gets better."
Second place finisher Millennium Wind in the post parade. His rider Chris McCarron said, "We just got outrun from
the eighth pole to the finish. He might have gotten a little
tired, but this is not bad for his first race in two months." Trainer
David Hofmans said that he will return to California, with no word on
what the final prep for the Derby will be.
Third place finisher Hero's Tribute in the post parade. His trainer, John T. Ward, said, "That's (Kentucky) Derby style. That's what you expect in there, to get boxed around and knocked around. I was pleased with his race." Ward also trains Florida Derby winner Monarchos for owner John Oxley. Hero's Tribute should make his next start at Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes.
Fourth place finisher Dollar Bill prior to the race. His trainer Dallas Stewart said, "I'm disappointed. He had a rough trip. Honestly, I thought I had the best horse, but my horse tripped at the quarter pole." He is also expected to make his next start in the Blue Grass.
The happy connections including trainer Steve Asmussen, his wife, and two children plus owners James Cassels and Bob Zollars in the winner's circle.
All photos by Cindy Pierson.
