Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Pyro Takes Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds
Posted on Saturday, March 8th, 2008
Biding his time behind the leaders, Pyro, under regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan, muscled through an opening in the stretch and cruised to a 3-length victory in the $600,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, March 8.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Pyro returned $3.60, $2.80 and $2.20 while touring the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.44. The son of Pulpit became an equine millionaire, increasing his earnings to $1,056,718 with his third victory from six lifetime starts.
The victory gives Steve Asmussen a top Kentucky Derby contender for the second year in a row. He also trains 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin, who was 3rd in the Kentucky Derby last year, won the Preakness Stakes and finished 2nd in the Belmont Stakes. Curlin is now training in Dubai for the Dubai World Cup on March 29.
Horse trainer Asmussen has another Kentucky Derby hopeful in Z Fortune, who runs next Saturday in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.
My Pal Charlie, who set the early pace, finished second at 60-1 odds and paid $26 and $10.80. Yankee Bravo, who came into the race with a 3-0 record, was third and returned $5.20.
Blackberry Road was fourth, followed by Stevil, Tale of Ekati, Majestic Warrior, J Be K and Unbridled Vicar completed the field of the Fair Grounds’s Louisiana Derby.
Steve Asmussen said Pyro’s final Kentucky Derby prep will be the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky on April 12. The race is run over Polytrack, an artificial surface that all but eliminates weather concerns.
"Pyro Takes Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds" was posted on Saturday, March 8th, 2008 at 9:29 pm and is filed under Fair Grounds, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Sunday, March 9th, 2008 10:40 am By Lyle
I suspected Pyro to take the wire, but more surprising was My Pal Charlie. Where did he come from? Setting the early pace and still taking the consolation ‘big’ prize.