Louisiana Derby Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2025 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2025 (G2) Louisiana Derby is set for March 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, LA. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Louisiana Derby Preview
- Race: Louisiana Derby
- Purse: $1 million
- Distance: 1 3/16 miles
- Track: Fair Grounds Race Course
- Date: March 22, 2025
- Post Time: 6:42 PM (ET)
- Live: Louisiana Derby Odds: Click Here
Before we can give you our expert 2025 Louisiana Derby free pick, we have to break down the entries! In fact, we’d love to hear from you after you’ve given this post a read to see if you see an angle that we don’t!
2025 Louisiana Derby Handicapping
On top of the fact it is one of the first of the 2025 Kentucky Derby prep races to award points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale, the Louisiana Derby is significant for it’s length. It’s the only Derby prep to be run at 1 3/16 miles, just 1/16th shorter than the Derby’s 1 1/4. If a horse can handle the LA Derby distance, Kentucky should be no problem.
For 2025 the race has drawn a fairly evenly matched field of 10 that should offer good betting value, with no heavy favourite and no long shot listed above 12-1 in the morning line odds.
Odds listed here are provided by the Fair Grounds track oddsmaker.
2025 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: John Hancock Race Odds: 7-2
The speed-of-the-speed, last out in the Sam F Davis Stakes John Hancock led from gate-to-wire, prevailing in a prolonged stretch battle with Owen Almighty, who two weeks ago came back to to win the Tampa Bay Derby.
He’s won both starts of his career so far, both at Tampa Bay Downs. Here he tries a new track while stretching out beyond 1 1/16 miles for the first time.
2025 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: Built Race Odds: 4-1
As opposed to John Hancock, Built will be making his fourth consecutive start at Fair Grounds, a run that started with a decisive 6 3/4-length win in the Gun Runner Stakes late last year.
Following that he was second, beaten just a neck in the (G3) Lecomte Stakes, but seemed tire badly last out when finishing 3rd and stretching out iin distance to 1 1/8 miles.
Instant Replay Race Odds: 5-1
Taking his first shot here at stakes company, Instant Replay has increased his speed rating in each of his five lifetime starts and last out was a five-length winner on this track going 1 1/16 miles.
In that race he started last of six and steadily moved up to get the win, but he has also shown in the past some ability to sit closer to the pace early. This will be his toughest class test yet.
Vassimo Race Odds: 12-1
Vassimo looked good in winning his first two career starts, but ran a weird one last out when he was prominent early, faded in the mid-point of the race, then came back to get up for fourth behind a winner that was more than 9 lengths clear of the field.
To try and sharpen his focus he gets blinkers here for the first time, for a trainer who hits 19% winners when putting the blinkers on for the first time.
Here’s My 2025 Louisiana Derby Stakes Free Pick.
I typically love horses like John Hancock who can show early speed, can carry thatyspeed throughout the race, and then still have the stamina to dig in and battle out a win with a tough rival in the stretch. It’s especially significant when the horse he battles with then comes back to win his next race.
If John Hancock can do it again, he’s my early pick to win in Kentucky on the first Saturday in May. But having said that, I also think he’s going to be bet down on race day well below his morning line of 7-2, and I’d like to get some value in this race. Both John Hancock and Instant Replay are trained by Brad Cox, and I’m betting on both being in the exacta.
I’m more confident in Instant Replay getting the distance, and his running style will allow him to race just off the speed and make his best run in the stretch. That last 16th mile will be the key, and I’ll bet for Instant Replay to get by John Hancock late to get the win over his stablemate.
Full Field: 2025 Louisiana Derby Odds
By post position
- #1 – John Hancock 7-2
- #2 – Chunk Of Gold 8-1
- #3 – Tiztastic 8-1
- #4 – Yinzer 12-1
- #5 – Caldera 5-1
- #6 – Built 4-1
- #7 – Vassimo 12-1
- #8 – Furio 12-1
- #9 – Instant Replay 6-1
- #10 – Hypnus 10-1
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