Several key Triple Crown preps were run on Saturday, March 14, with the connections of most Derby contenders planning these races as being the second-last start before the Kentucky Derby, with the major final preps (Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Arkansas Derby) scheduled in 3-4 weeks time.
The biggest race of the weekend was the $600,000 Louisiana Derby (G2), held at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans under rainy conditions with a sloppy track. 2-1 favorite Friesan Fire stalked the pace set by 5-1 Papa Clem, then took over at the top of the lane and powered away to an impressing 7 1/4 length victory in 1:43.46 for the 1 1/16 mile trip. It was another head back to 9-1 Terrain in third. The two other highly-regarded horses in the field failed to fire, as 6-1 Flying Pegasus faded to 6th after racing close to the pace, and 4-1 Patena showed no rally late finishing eighth. Friesan Fire is the first horse since Dixieland Heat in 1993 to sweep the Fair Grounds 3-year-old series, having won the Lecomte in January 10 and the Risen Star on February 7. Trainer Larry Jones said, "We're very happy with his performance. We're improving every race." Jockey Gabriel Saez added, "He was awesome the way he was going so smooth early. He made me so confident. When I asked him to go, he did it so easy I can't explain it."
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The $300,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn is the major local prep for the Arkansas Derby. With 28,240 fans in attendance, heavy favorite and early Triple Crown choice Old Fashioned was bet down to 2-5 in the field of nine. He stalked the pace set by 7-1 Silver City early, took over the lead on the turn, and opened up a 2 1/2 length advantage at the 1/8 pole. However, 57-1 Win Willy circled the field late after trailing for the first 5 furlongs, passed the favorite at the 1/16 pole and drew away to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:44.41 for the 1 1/16 mile trip over the "good" track. Winning trainer Mac Robertson said, "After he won his last race, I thought the distance would be okay. This race came at the right time frame. I was fairly impressed with his last race and he did act that the distance would be no problem. This was a home run for us and the horse." Larry Jones, trainer of beaten favorite Old Fashioned, said, "It is hard to say what happened. The track was heavy and with those kind of fractions, it was bound to catch up with him. He ran well and we are proud of what he did."
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The $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) also saw one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby fail miserably before a crowd of 10,420. 6-1 Musket Man rallied from well off the pace on the far outside to nail 36-1 pacesetter Join in the Dance at the line, completing the 1 1/16 mile trip in 1:43.67 over the fast track. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Justdontcallmejeri in third. However, 2-1 favorite Hello Broadway, who raced back in 8th early, gave way in the stretch to finish seventh beaten 5 3/4 lengths at the line. 2.90-1 second choice General Quarters, who won the prep for this race with a 100 Beyer figure, never fired either finishing fifth. Winning owner Eric Fein, who also owned last year's winner Big Truck said, "I believe he's going to have one more race, and then we'll have to make a really serious decision about the Kentucky Derby this year." Trainer Derek Ryan added, "He's nominated for the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne, but the owners are all from New York, so we might have to look at the Wood too."
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The $200,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita is the major local prep for the Santa Anita Derby. 3-10 favorite Pioneerof the Nile did not disappoint, moving up to challenge the pace set by 6-1 second choice New Bay through 6 furlongs, then taking over at the top of the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 11-1 Feisty Suances in 1:43.35 for the 1 1/16 mile trip over Pro-Ride. It was a length back to 14-1 Jeranimo. Winning jockey Garrett Gomez said, "When we turned down the backstretch, I moved him out, hoping that maybe the others would pick it up. But they didn't, so I just went on with it. You can see that when I do get into him, he lengthens his stride. He can handle any scenario, but if we had a legitimate pace to sit behind, he's more effective." Trainer Bob Baffert added, "He's becoming very professional. He was a May foal, so he's not even three yet. I like what I saw today. I was a little bit nervous because it looked too easy on paper and that's usually when things go wrong."
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Gulfstream Park hosted the $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. 4-1 fourth choice El Crespo stalked the pace set by 2-1 second choice Duke of Homberg, then took over at the 3/16 pole and held off the late closing 9-5 favorite Lime Rickey by a length to get the win in 1:47.71 over the firm course. It was just a head back to 3-1 third choice Stomalory third. Winning trainer Rusty Arnold said, "He's a 3-year-old by A.P. Indy, so we thought we had to try him on dirt in the Holy Bull (as a potential Derby candidate), and obviously that didn't work, so we brought him back here on grass. I think his future will be on turf, although we might try him on Polytrack again."
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