Louisiana Derby Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2021 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2021 Louisiana Derby is set for March 20 at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Louisiana Derby Preview and Prediction
- Race: Louisiana Derby
- Purse: $1 million
- Track: Fair Grounds Race Course
- Date: March 20
- Post Time: 6:44 PM (ET)
- Live: Louisiana Derby Odds: Click Here
2021 Louisiana Derby Handicapping
The next few weekends will decide the field for the 2021 Kentucky Derby, and the first of eight races to award Derby qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale goes Saturday with the running of the (G2) Louisiana Derby.
Open to horses age three, the Louisiana Derby is run at a demanding 1 3/16 miles on the Fair Grounds dirt course, which means every horse will be stretching out further than they have raced so far.
Odds listed here are the morning line odds from the Fair Grounds track handicapper.
2021 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: Mandaloun Race Odds: 8-5
The solid pre-race favourite, Mandaloun likely already has a enough points to make the Derby starting gate and will stamp himself as a major contender for the big race if he can manage another a win here.
Last out he was the winner of the (G2) Risen Star Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on the Fair Grounds dirt, a race where he sat in a perfect stalking position to the top of the stretch and then moved four wide to take over and go on to win by just over a length. He seems to be getting better with each race and his workouts have been very good.
Trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux were the winning combination of the 2020 race.
2021 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: Hot Rod Charlie Race Odds: 3-1
The surprise 94-1 runner up in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Hot Rod Charlie was last seen running third beaten by just a head and a nose in the (G3) Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita. He had some excuse for just missing there, as he stumbled at the break and then dealt with some bumping down the lane but still managed to battle on and get the show money.
While he has put a lot of money in the bank, he only has a single maiden win in six lifetime starts on his resume.
The trainer is Leandro Mora (assistant to head trainer Doug O’Neill, who is serving a suspension), while Joel Rosario gets the call to ride.
2021 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: Proxy Race Odds: 7-2
Never worse than second in five career starts, Proxy has been very good in his last two, running second behind Mandaloun in the Risen Star, and second in the (G3) Lecomte Stakes, both on the Fair Grounds track.
Prior to that he overcame a rough trip to close out 2020 with an allowance-level win over a small field going 1 1/16 miles, also at Fair Grounds.
He’s trained by Michael Stidham, while veteran jockey John Velazquez has won the LA Derby twice before.
2021 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: Midnight Bourbon Race Odds: 5-1
Making his fifth consecutive graded-stakes start, Midnight Bourbon was the winner two back in the Lecomte, where he out finished both Proxy and Mandaloun. He couldn’t hold off those two late in the Risen Star, however, and the question is whether he he can get the distance now tasked with going 1/16 of a mile further.
Trainer Steve Asmussen is a three-time winner of this race, Joe Talamo will be in the irons.
Here’s My 2021 Louisiana Derby Free Pick.
As noted above, the two Fair Grounds prep races leading up to the LA Derby have all been about three horses – Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon and Proxy – and it’s likely those three will battle for top honours once again on Saturday.
Something has to give, and given the question about distance for Midnight Bourbon as they stretch out even more, he’s the one I’d toss. Proxy, meanwhile, has probably had to overcome the toughest trips in those recent races and could move forward just enough if he gets around with no trouble. For a bit more betting value I’ll play him for the win and use Mandaloun in the exacta.
Full Field: Louisiana Derby Betting Odds
- Mandaloun 8-5
- Hot Rod Charlie 3-1
- Proxy 7-2
- Midnight Bourbon 5-1
- Run Classic 12-1
- O Besos 15-1
- Starrininmydreams 20-1
- Rightandjust 20-1
What do you think of our 2021 Louisiana Derby Race Odds & Predictions? Weigh in below with a comment. We welcome your feedback.
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