Pyro Early Favorite in Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on March 8

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pyro, winner of the Risen Star Stakes and one of the leading 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders, was made the 7-5 morning-line favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds in the $600,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at Fair Grounds on Saturday, March 8.

Regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan will take the irons for the Steve Asmussen trainee, Pyro, who drew the number 3 post position. The Louisiana Derby is one of the the prep races leading to the 2008 Kentucky Derby.

All carrying 122 pounds, the complete field of 3-year-old horses racing in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on Saturday with jockeys:

  1. Stevil ridden by jockey Calvin Borel
  2. My Pal Charlie ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux
  3. Pyro ridden by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan
  4. J Be K ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux
  5. Unbridled Vicar ridden by jockey Corey Lanerie
  6. Tale of Ekati ridden by jockey Edgar Prado
  7. Blackberry Road ridden by jockey Robby Albarado
  8. Yankee Bravo ridden by jockey Alex Solis
  9. Majestic Warrior ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez

Pyro’s top challengers appear to be Tale of Ekati, Yankee Bravo and Majestic Warrior. Odds opened at 7-2 for Tale of Ekati; 4-1 for Yankee Bravo; and 9-2 for Majestic Warrior.

Tale of Ekati, by Tale of the Cat, captured the Futurity Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park before finishing 4th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Trained by Irishman Patrick Gallagher, Yankee Bravo, by Yankee Gentleman, won the California Derby last January 27. Yankee Bravo will be ridden by regular rider Alex Solis and it will be his first time running over a traditional dirt track at Fair Grounds.

Majestic Warrior, by A.P. Indy, won the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, but has not started since finishing sixth in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park last October.

Blackberry Road is the 10-1 longshot. Blackberry Road finished 5th in the Risen Star Stakes under jockey Calvin Borel, who also rode 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. Jockey Robby Albarado, will take the mount this time.

The last time a Louisiana Derby entry went on to win the Kentucky Derby was in 2003 with Funny Cide who took second place in the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds.

The Louisiana Derby is the 9th race in Fair Grounds Race Course’s 12-race card on Saturday, March 8, that will be the richest day of racing in Louisiana history, with stakes purses totaling $2.3 million. Estimated local post time of the 95th running of the Louisiana Derby is 4:48 pm CST.

"Pyro Early Favorite in Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on March 8" was posted on 3 March 2008 10:10 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Racing Picks & Betting Tips, Stakes Races

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