Louisiana Derby Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2026 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2026 Louisiana Derby is set for March 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, LA Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Louisiana Derby Preview
- Race: Lousiana Derby
- Purse: $1 million
- Distance: 1 3/16 miles
- Track: Fair Grounds Race Course
- Date: March 21, 2026
- Post Time: 6:42 pm (ET)
- Live: Louisiana Derby Odds: Click Here
Before we can give you our expert 2026 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!
Past 10 Louisiana Derby Winners
- 2025 – Tiz Tastic
- 2024 – Catching Freedom
- 2023 – Kingsbarnes
- 2022 – Epicenter
- 2021 – Hot Rod Charlie
- 2020 – Wells Bayou
- 2019 – By My Standards
- 2018 – Noble Indy
- 2017 – Girvin
- 2016 – Gun Runner
2026 Louisiana Derby Handicapping
This weekend marks the start of the most important prep races to qualify for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, as most of the races from this point will be offering Derby qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15 -10 scale.
What that means is any new shooters in the competition for a spot in the Derby gate that have yet to run in a qualifying race can get in with a first-or-second place finish.
One the races on tap on Saturday is the (G2) Louisiana Derby. While the last LA Derby winner to go on to win the Kentucky Derby was Grindstone in 1996, in recent years the race has proven to be a solid stepping stone to success in Triple Crown races.
In 2022, Epicenter won the LA Derby and ran second in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The year before that, Hot Rod Charlie won and was second in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
In 2016, LA Derby winner Gun Runner was third in the Kentucky Derby, but really stepped up his game the next season, winning four Grade 1 races including the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The LA Derby is unique in the prep races as it is run at 1 3/16 miles, the longest of all the Derby qualifying races, and only 1/16th of a mile shorter than the Kentucky Derby itself.
This year’s race is expected to draw a competitive field of nine starters.
Odds listed here are provided by the Fair Grounds track oddsmaker.
2026 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: Chip Honch Race Odds: 3-1
The very consistent Chip Honcho has started five times, and has won two and been runner up twice. Last out in the (G2) Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds he broke sharp and tried to go wire-to-wire, but was passed late and finished second by just a half-length.
In a race that lacks much front-end speed, expect him to employ the same tactics while trying to hold on for one more 1/16th of a mile.
2026 Louisiana Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: Golden Tempo Race Odds: 7-2
With the opposite style of Chip Honcho, Golden Tempo won his first two career starts back-to-back when closing from far back. Last out he couldn’t quite get to the leaders but was making up ground late when running fourth in the Risen Star.
The trainer has added blinkers here in an attempt to get him more engaged early. The added distance works in his favour.
Easterly Race Odds: 6-1
In his one-mile racing debut, Easterly pressed the pace, briefly grabbed the lead, but was passed late by Class President, who has since gone on to capture the (G2) Rebel Stakes.
He scored his maiden win last out in the same stalking style while stretching out to 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park, driving clear late to win by 2 1/2 lengths.
Emerging Market Race Odds: 6-1
Emerging Market only has a single prior start to his name, but he looked very good in winning that debut racing one mile at Tampa Bay Downs.
He overcame some trip trouble, bumping with a rival at the quarter-pole and then drifting a bit in the stretch, but still managed to put up a 99 Brisnet speed figure, the tops in this field.
Here’s My 2026 Lousiana Derby Stakes Free Pick
By most accounts this is one of the weaker Louisiana Derby fields we’ve seen in the past few years, something that is probably borne out by the fact four of the nine entries are coming in off a maiden win.
Both of the favourites have graded stakes wins on their resumes, but at the same time I think there are reasons to play against both.
Without much speed signed on, Chip Honcho could find himself alone winging it on the front end, and maybe back-class will carry him to the finish line first. But he’s a horse that does his best running by far early in races, and I’m not sure he wants the distance.
Golden Tempo, on the other hand, should relish the stretch out in distance, but unless the blinkers really wake him up, he’s a one-run closer that may have no pace to close into.
Of the others mentioned here, Emerging Market’s debut effort stands out, but perhaps so much so you wonder if he can replicate it. My sense is that he’ll be the wise-guy pick of the race and as such will see his odds drop significantly.
That leads me to Easterly, who I think could be overlooked and offer value at close to his ML odds. He probably needs to find some more overall speed, but his stalking style suits this race, and he’s a horse whose speed figures increase as the race goes on. The same is true of Golden Tempo, but Easterly figures to be much closer to the front when the real running starts in the stretch.
I’ll take Easterly on top, with Golden Tempo in the exacta.
Full Field: 2026 Louisiana Derby Odds
By post position
- #1 – Pavlovian 6-1
- #2 – Autobahn 8-1
- #3 – Chip Honcho 3-1
- #4 – Universe 12-1
- #5 – Golden Tempo 7-2
- #6 – Spirit Of Royal 20-1
- #7 – Blacksmith 6-1
- #8 – Easterly 6-1
- #9 – Emerging Market 6-1
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