Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist - March 20

Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist

Saturday, March 20, 2021

By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby (G2), Fair Grounds 

Race 14 – The Louisiana Derby is a Kentucky Derby qualifying race that offers points [100-40-20-10] to the top four finishers.  (5) Hot Rod Charlie ships from Santa Anita for two-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Doug O’Neill who is currently serving a suspension. This horse in one of only two in the field that did not run in the Risen Star (G2) and that is not a bad thing. In his 2021 debut he was part of a blanket finish in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) where he was third after racing between horses in tight quarters. O’Neill likes to ship around the country to find winning spots for his horses. (6) Mandaloun bounced back nicely to win the Risen Star and has enough points already to qualify for the Derby and does not need to win here. (4) Proxy gets blinkers on after finishing second in the Lecomte and the Risen Star on the Derby trail. Maybe the blinkers are all that he needs to get him to the winner’s circle. (3) Run Classic was an impressive maiden winner last time at the Fair Grounds. Offspring of Runhappy have been flourishing as 3-year-olds and this Bret Calhoun runner could take a step forward and be part of the exotics at big odds. Betting strategy:  Exacta box: 3, 4, 5, 6. Trifecta box: 3, 4, 5, 6.