The Road to the Kentucky Derby goes back through the Bayou on Saturday with a field of 10 lining up for the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) led by the likely betting favorite My Boy Jack.
At stake are 100-40-20-10 points toward entry into the Run for the Roses. The winner stamps a ticket to Louisville on the first Saturday of May, and the runner up virtually assures themselves a spot in the starting gate as well with 40 points, generally good enough to crack the top 20 in the Kentucky Derby point standings.
The Keith Desormeaux trained My Boy Jack won the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park in his last start to pick up 10 points, giving him 12 in total. The colt was third in the Sham (G3) in his previous outing.
A price can still be found on the colt in early Kentucky Derby wagering at 50-1.
The top three finishers from the local prep, the Risen Star (G2), are back. The race was won by Bravazo by a nose over Snapper Sinclair with another two lengths back to Noble Indy in third.
Bravazo was sent off at 21-1 in the Risen Star and will be a much shorter price on Saturday. The D. Wayne Lukas trainee is currently listed at 33-1 in early Kentucky Derby wagering.
Noble Indy may have as much upside as any in the field with just three career starts under his belt. He is trained by Todd Pletcher, who won the race in 2013 with Revolutionary and in 2010 with Mission Impazible.
The colt is currently 33-1 in early Kentucky Derby betting and looking to join his stablemates Audible (8-1) and Magnum Moon (16-1) as major Derby contenders.
The last four winners of the Louisiana Derby and seven of the last 10 have exited a run in the Risen Star.
Bolt d’Oro remains the early betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby at 7-1. The colt was a head behind McKinzie in the San Felipe (G2) in his last start but was placed first as his foe interfered with him in deep stretch.
His final prep for the Run for the Roses comes in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 7.
Audible is the second choice in early Kentucky Derby future betting at 8-1. The colt won the Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park in his last start on Feb. 3. His last prep for Louisville will be the Florida Derby (G1) on March 31.
The Bob Baffert trained McKinzie is the third choice in future Derby wagering at 10-1. The colt makes his final prep in the Santa Anita Derby.