Louisiana Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $600,000 Louisiana Derby (G2) will feature an interesting match up
between horses from both coasts as well as a local contingent composed of the
second- and third-place finishers in the February 12 Risen Star S. (G3). SCIPION
(A.P. Indy), who won the Risen Star, is based in Southern California and
returns to New Orleans for a potential sweep of the major Kentucky Derby (G1)
preps at Fair Grounds.

This year’s Louisiana Derby appears to be wide-open, so we’re going to give a
slight nod to Scipion, who rallied from last to win the Risen Star. The
well-bred dark bay circled the field around the far turn, then closed powerfully
to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths. While his final time was not that
impressive, Scipion was a good-looking winner, and trainer Patrick Biancone was
delighted with his one-mile workout at Santa Anita on Sunday. He faces a much
tougher task in this spot but seems to be improving at the right time. In
addition, he should offer excellent wagering value under a returning Gary
Stevens.

KANSAS CITY BOY (Boston Harbor) was scratched from last Saturday’s Fountain
of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park after he drew an inside post. The dark bay
colt gets the far outside gate today and trainer Kenny McPeek will remove his
blinkers in an attempt to get the horse to relax off the early pace. Kansas City
Boy, who has lots of speed, ran well in both his starts this year, finishing a
close second in the nine-furlong Holy Bull S. (G3) last out after setting the pace, and a close third in the LeComte S. (G3) over this track in his prior
outing. Kansas City Boy has been working bullets and is a serious win threat.

The locally based STORM SURGE (Storm Cat) won the LeComte with a determined
effort after being four wide for most of the race. The Dallas Stewart-trained
colt battled gamely through the stretch before finishing third, beaten 1 1/2
lengths, in the Risen Star. He is nicely drawn near the inside for a
ground-saving trip and gets a rider change to Jerry Bailey. He gets
extra consideration for being a two-time stakes winner over this track.

HIGH LIMIT (Maria’s Mon), the 5-2 morning-line favorite, won both of his
career starts on the front end at Delaware Park last year by a combined 18 1/2 lengths.
The bay colt is now trained by Bobby Frankel, but our concern is that he figures to
get a class test in his first start off the shelf. If he wins, High Limit will
likely become a leading contender for the roses. Your call.

REAL DANDY (Yankee Victor), trained by the ever-dangerous Steve Asmussen,
closed nicely for runner-up honors in the Risen Star. He has finished second or
better in seven of nine starts and could share again. A good one for the bottom
of the exotics. SORT IT OUT (Out of Place) was a sharp, off-the-pace winner of
the Whirlaway S. at Aqueduct, then was sold and sent to trainer Bob Baffert in
California, who said the colt had a hard winter campaign in New York and needed
some time off. We’re just going to watch.

WALLSTREET SCANDAL (Mt. Livermore) defeated allowance foes on the grass at
Gulfstream Park in his last start and has some upset potential under Rafael Bejarano.
He rates our longshot special. VICARAGE (Vicar), trained by Todd Pletcher and
ridden by John Velazquez, finished a non-threatening third in the one-turn
Hutcheson S. (G2) in his latest and would have to come alive to factor.
Looking elsewhere.

The well bred INDY STORM (A.P. Indy), trained by Triple Crown specialist Nick
Zito, was a troubled fourth against first-level allowance types at Gulfstream Park in
his last start and would be a surprise.