Already assured of a Kentucky Derby spot, Epicenter has been installed as a 7-5 favorite for Saturday’s Louisiana Derby, with 100 points to the winner.
Epicenter posted a front-running score in the Risen Star Stakes, the first 50-point Derby trail race, to take over the points lead.
A big field, including two of the top three runners in Derby points earned, will contest Saturday’s Risen Star at the Fair Grounds, the first 50-point race.
Hot Rod Charlie got — at long last — his Grade 1 triumph in Saturday’s Pennsylvania Derby. He wasn’t the day’s only “at long last” winner by any means.
Steve Asmussen and Feargal Lynch teamed up to win Saturday’s G3 De Francis Dash, their second win in the race in four years.
Hot Rod Charlie, second in the Belmont and third in the Kentucky Derby, is the morning line favorite for Saturday’s Grade 1 Haskell.
Mighty Mischief rolled to victory in the Grade 3 Chick Lang Stakes to give trainer Steve Asmussen his third win in the event in four years.
Midnight Bourbon breezed a half-mile Monday morning in his final move prior to the May 15 Preakness Stakes.
Willful Woman, a winner of two of her last three starts, will try hunting bigger game in Friday’s Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
Midnight Bourbon, a rallying sixth in the Kentucky Derby, will face the starter in the May 15 Preakness, trainer Steve Asmussen said.