Kentucky Derby Blog

Risen Star Stakes winner Mucho Macho Man lost his right front shoe at the start of the Louisiana Derby on Saturday but still battled bravely to finish third, beaten by less than a length by winner Pants On Fire. Mucho Macho Man has $370,000 in graded stakes earnings, which should be sufficient to guarantee him a starting spot in the Kentucky Derby.

Previously unheralded Pants On Fire, a son of Jump Start, had only a maiden win in seven starts prior to his neck victory in the Louisiana Derby at odds of 6-1.

Kelly Breen, who trains the Kentucky-bred colt for George and Lori Hall, left Fair Grounds early to prepare his horses for the Sunland Park Derby (gr. III), but indicated earlier that Pants On Fire, who earned $600,000 for the victory, would make his next start in the May 7 Derby.

Watch the Louisiana Derby 2011 replay

Mission Impazible, a Todd Pletcher-trained colt, pulled ahead just past the sixteenth pole to win his first race as a 3-year-old in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds on Saturday.

Ridden by Rajiv Maragh and starting from the second post at 7-1 odds, he covered the 1 1-8-mile course in 1:50.32 on a dry and fast track.

A Little Warm, trained by Tony Dutrow, held on for second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner and a neck in front of third-place finisher Drosselmeyer.

Mission Impazible paid $16.20, $7.20 and $5. A Little Warm paid $8.60 and 5.80. Drosselmeyer, which started from the 13th post, paid $4.20.

There were 3 derby preps last weekend and here are the payouts and results.

Louisiana Derby
As expected, Pyro won Louisiana Derby easily. The victory not only reaffirmed Pyro’s status as a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby, it made trainer Steve Asmussen breathe easier knowing his 3-year-old colt won with plenty to spare. Pyro’s latest win simply reaffirmed his status as a top Kentucky Derby contender, but undefeated War Pass remains No. 1 in the latest Associated Press’ Run to the Roses’ Top 10 list. Pyro, who won the Risen Star with a last-to-first stretch run Feb. 9, stays No. 2 with all three of his losses coming last year against undefeated War Pass.

 Horse         Win Place Show
3 Pyro         3.60 2.80 2.20
2 My Pal Charlie  26.00 10.80
8 Yankee Bravo   5.20

El Camino Real Derby
Autism Awareness stormed onto the Derby scene with a stunning win in the El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows at odds of 62-1. The colt was 0-for-12 before breaking his maiden in the race before the El Camino Real.

  Horse         Win Place Show
6  Bwana Bull 4.00 2.40 2.20
7  Freesgood  4.00 3.80
1  Zoning In   6.60

Shame Stakes
Colonel John, ridden by Garrett Gomez, won by a half-length, with the previously unbeaten El Gato Malo finishing three lengths in front of third-place Victory Pete. Reflect Times was fourth, and Success Fee trailed in the field of five. Coast Guard and Trevor’s Clever were scratched.

  Horse         Win Place Show
6 Colonel John 5.00 2.40 2.10
1 El Gato Malo  2.20 2.10
5 Victory Pete   2.60