Louisiana Derby
- Location: Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans
- Inaugural Race: 1894
- Current Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
- Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
- Status: Grade 3
- 2018 Purse: $1,000,000
- 2018 Race Date: Saturday, March 24th
2018 Louisiana Entries and Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY | TRAINER | WIN | PLACE | SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Noble Indy | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | $7.40 | $4.80 | $3.20 |
| 8 | Lone Sailor | James Graham | Thomas M. Amoss | $7.40 | $4.20 | |
| 9 | My Boy Jack | Kent J. Desormeaux | J. Keith Desormeaux | $3.20 | ||
| 4 | Givemeaminit | Javier Castellano | Dallas Stewart | |||
| 7 | Snapper Sinclair | Jose L. Ortiz | Steven M. Asmussen | |||
| 6 | Hyndford | Joe Bravo | Todd A. Pletcher | |||
| 5 | Retirement Fund | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steven M. Asmussen | |||
| 1 | Bravazo | Gary L. Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | |||
| 3 | Dark Templar | Florent Geroux | Brendan P. Walsh | |||
| 10 | Marmello | Jack Gilligan | Mikhail Yanakov |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $2 Exacta (2-8) $74.00
- $2 Trifecta (2-8-9) $381.40
- $2 Superfecta (2-8-9-4) $2,743.20
Recent Louisiana Derby News
Analyzing the Wild Finish of the Louisiana Derby (3/26/2018) - Thus far on the Road to the 2018 Kentucky Derby, I don’t think any prep race has produced a wilder finish than the $1 million ...Read More
All-Stakes Pick 4 Analysis for Louisiana Derby Day at Fair Grounds (3/21/2018) - Fair Grounds Race Course takes center stage on Saturday afternoon as the meet’s premier event headlines a superb card of racing that commences at 12:30 ...Read More
Will Bravazo Win Again in the Louisiana Derby? (3/20/2018) - The action on the Road to the Kentucky Derby will really pick up this Saturday with the $1 million TwinSpires Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at ...Read More
Four stakes kick off Fair Grounds 2017-18 meet (11/17/2017) - The important Fair Grounds winter meeting kicks off Nov. 18, the beginning of five months of racing that includes major preps for the Kentucky Derby ...Read More
Kentucky Derby Hopefuls to Watch on April 8 (4/2/2017) - April 8 should be the most important day yet for Kentucky Derby hopefuls. After the Louisiana Derby and Florida Derby, both this past Saturday on ...Read More
Watch the 2018 Louisiana Derby
Louisiana Derby History
Founded in 1894, the Louisiana Derby is the culmination of the Fair Grounds series of three Kentucky Derby prep races. But with $1 million at stake, it’s a fine prize in its own right.
Once held eight weeks before the Kentucky Derby, it’s now held six weeks prior, possibly giving it more relevance to the Derby picture. It’s an integral part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby championship series, with the first four home earning points on a 100-40-20-10 basis. The winner will definitely get a start at Churchill Downs, and it’s highly likely the 40 points earned by the runner-up will be enough to earn a start.
Just three runners in the Fair Grounds feature have won the Run for the Roses: Black Gold (1924), Grindstone (1996), and Funny Cide (2003). Black Gold and Grindstone won the Louisiana Derby, while Funny Cide finished third, promoted to second with the disqualification of the winner.
Two Louisiana Derby winners went on to take the Preakness Stakes: Master Derby (1975) and Risen Star (1988), who also won the Belmont Stakes.
The best recent winner was Gun Runner (2016), who went on to finish third in the Kentucky Derby before a great 4-year-old campaign that culminated with victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The best guide for punters is the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds the previous month. The three most recent Louisiana Derby winners – Girvin, Gun Runner, and International Star – all won the Risen Star Stakes, while others to complete the double include Friesan Fire (2009), Pyro (2008), and Repent (2002).
Louisiana Derby Trivia
At how many different courses has the Louisiana Derby been run?
Three
The Louisiana Derby has been held at Crescent City, Jefferson City and the Fair Grounds Race Course.
How many Louisiana Derby winners have also won the Kentucky Derby?
Two
Just two horses to date have won both the Louisiana Derby and the Kentucky Derby: Black Gold in 1924 and Grindstone in 1996.
Which jockey holds the record for Louisiana Derby wins in the last 50 years?
Pay Day
Pat Day has won the Louisiana Derby 5 times, in 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1997.
At how many different distances has the Louisiana Derby been run?
Two
Unlike many other old races, the Louisiana Derby has always been run at a distance exceeding a mile. It has been held at 1 1/16 miles and at its current distance of 9 furlongs.
Previous Winners of the Louisiana Derby
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Girvin | Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. | Joe Sharp | Brad Grady |
| 2016 | Gun Runner | Florent Geroux | Steve Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds/Three Chimneys Farm |
| 2015 | International Star | Miguel Mena | Michael Maker | Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey |
| 2014 | Vicar's in Trouble | Rosie Napravnik | Michael Maker | Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey |
| 2013 | Revolutionary | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | WinStar Farm |
| 2012 | Hero of Order | Eddie Martin Jr. | Gennadi Dorochenko | Raut LLC |
| 2011 | Pants on Fire | Rosie Napravnik | Kelly Breen | George & Lori Hall |
| 2010 | Mission Impazible | Rajiv Maragh | Todd A. Pletcher | Twin Creeks Rac.Stable |
| 2009 | Friesan Fire | Gabriel Saez | J. Larry Jones | Vinery St./Fox Hill Farm |
| 2008 | Pyro | Sh.Bridgmohan | Steve Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| 2007 | Circular Quay | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael Tabor |
| 2006 | No Race | No Race | No Race | No Race |
| 2005 | High Limit | Ramon Dominguez | Robert J. Frankel | Gary & Mary West |
| 2004 | Wimbledon | Javier Santiago | Bob Baffert | James McIngvale |
| 2003 | Peace Rules | Edgar Prado | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann |
| 2002 | Repent | Jerry D. Bailey | Kenneth McPeek | Select Stable |
| 2001 | Fifty Stars | Donnie Meche | Steve Asmussen | J. Cassells / R. Zollars |
| 2000 | Mighty | Shane Sellers | Frank L. Brothers | Aspiration Stable |
| 1999 | Kimberlite Pipe | Robby Albarado | Dallas Stewart | J. D. Gunther |
| 1998 | Comic Strip | Shane Sellers | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III |
| 1997 | Crypto Star | Pat Day | Wayne Catalano | Darrell & Evelyn Yates |
| 1996 | Grindstone | Jerry D. Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm |
| 1995 | Petionville | Chris Antley | Randy Bradshaw | Everest Stables |
| 1994 | Kandaly | Craig Perret | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III |
| 1993 | Dixieland Heat | Randy Romero | Gerald Romero | Leland Cook |
| 1992 | Line In The Sand | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III |
| 1991 | Richman | Pat Day | William I. Mott | William F. Lucas |
| 1990 | Heaven Again | Corey Nakatani | Vincent Timphony | K. Timphony et al. |
| 1989 | Dispersal | Jose Santos | Bud Delp | Henry & Teresa Mayerhoff |
| 1988 | Risen Star | Shane Romero | Louie J. Roussel III | R. Lamarque/L. J. Roussel III |
| 1987 | J. T.'s Pet | Pat Day | Lynn S. Whiting | W. Cal Partee |
| 1986 | Country Light | Pat Day | Steve C. Penrod | Cherry Valley Farm |
| 1985 | Violado | Jacinto Vasquez | William E. Burch | Due Process Stable |
| 1984 | Taylor's Special | Sam Maple | William I. Mott | William F. Lucas |
| 1983 | Balboa Native | Jorge Velasquez | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert N. Spreen |
| 1982 | El Baba | Don Brumfield | Dewey Smith | Dorothy Dorsett Brown |
| 1981 | Woodchopper | Jorge Velasquez | John M. Gaver, Jr. | Greentree Stable |
| 1980 | Prince Valiant | Mike A. Gonzalez | John M. Gaver, Jr. | Greentree Stable |
| 1979 | Golden Act | Sandy Hawley | Loren Rettele | W.Oldknow & R.Phipps |
| 1978 | Esop's Foibles | Chris McCarron | Loren Rettele | Jerry Frankel |
| 1977 | Clev Er Tell | Ray Broussard | Homer C. Pardue | J. R. Straus & I. Proler |
| 1976 | Johnny Appleseed | Marco Castaneda | John M. Gaver, Jr. | Greentree Stable |
| 1975 | Master Derby | Darrel McHargue | Smiley Adams | Golden Chance Farm |
| 1974 | Sellout | Marco Castaneda | Not Found | Jean Pancoast |
| 1973 | Leo's Pisces | Robert Breen | Abe Simoff | Joseph Taub |
| 1972 | No Le Hace | Phil Rubbicco | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph W. Strauss |
