Bayou Breakthrough A premium opportunity awaits a wide-open field of nine sophomores in Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. Among those vying for the lion’s share of the seven-figure prize – and up to 100 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10) – is 3-year-old Curlin colt Golden Tempo. Trained by Cherie DeVaux for owners Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, Golden Tempo enters the 1 3/16-mile contest off a third in February’s Risen Star (G2), which went to leading Derby contender, Paladin. Golden Tempo (7-2), who captured the Grade 3 Lecomte on January 17, will be joined Saturday by Risen Star runner-up and the Louisiana Derby’s 3-1 morning line choice, Chip Honcho. We Meet Again Louisiana Derby Day, with stakes purses totalling $2.65 million, also features the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) for 3-year-old fillies. Awarding Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale, the 1 1/16-mile tilt marks the renewal of unbeaten Bella Ballerina (7-5 choice) and Luv Your Neighbor’s (7-2) budding rivalry. The standout duo first squared off last time out in February’s Rachel Alexandra (G2), which saw the former overtake the latter late for the half-length triumph. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Bella Ballerina’s sterling resume (3-0-0; $481,525) also includes the Golden Rod (G2). Luv Your Neighbor, while yet to experience stakes glory, is emerging as a legitimate threat with three straight runner-up efforts (Untapable, Silverbulletday, and Rachel Alexandra). Raising the Stakes Some unfortunate luck in last month’s John Battaglia Memorial Stakes stifled Two Out Hero’s hopes of carrying the momentum from a tremendous freshman campaign into the start of year two. Eager to prove the showing was just an outlier, the 3-year-old War Front colt returns to Turfway Park this Saturday for the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). Billed for post four in the field of a dozen, Two Out Hero was a clutch performer in year one for owner Gold Square LLC. In three 2025 starts, the Kevin Attard charge picked up two victories, headlined by the bet365 Soaring Free Stakes, and a third in the bet365 Summer Stakes (G1). With up to 100 Kentucky Derby points on the line Saturday (100-50-25-15-10), Two Out Hero enters at 8-1. Shining Bright After coming out of the local prep a winner (Cincinnati Trophy Stakes), Resplendence continues her quest towards the Kentucky Oaks with another stop at Turfway Park for this Saturday’s $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks. The sister race to the Jeff Ruby allots Oaks qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 50-25-15-10 split. Situated on the rail for the 12-horse Bourbonette, Resplendence dazzled last time out with a 2 ¾-length gate-to-wire score, at 11-1, in the Cincinnati Trophy. After a winless rookie season, the bay, bred and owned by Bonne Chance Farm, is a perfect two-for-two this year with nearly $178,000 in the bank. At 4-1, Resplendence slots into fourth in early Bourbonette betting. Never Say Never Reigning Pegasus World Cup (G1) champion Skippylongstocking gallops into Saturday’s $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park, the deserving 4-5 favourite. Second in line, according to the early betting, is Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable’s Accelerize, at 9-2. A reliable performer through five lifetime starts (3-1-1), the 4-year-old colt began 2026 with a hard-fought Louisiana Stakes (G3) victory on January 17 at Fair Grounds. Accelerize followed up his maiden stakes success with a runner-up outing in last month’s Mineshaft (G3), also at Fair Grounds. The Todd Pletcher-trained dark bay faces a tall task with the dynamic Skippylongstocking but has shown a penchant for rising to the occasion. Share This:Share
