Photo: CDI
Trainer Neil Howard has two 3-year-old prospects who
have already shown enough promise to be under consideration for this year’s Grade
II Louisiana Derby when that local classic offers a $1 million purse
for the first time in its 98-year history on March 26.
One of them, Courtlandt Farms’ undefeated Machen,
will go to the post in Saturday’s Grade II Risen Star Stakes as
the designed prep for the Louisiana Derby and breezed five furlongs in 1:01.80
Monday morning.
“Jamie (jockey Theriot) said he felt very
comfortable under him,” Howard said Tuesday. “I feel that if (Machen) is good
enough, this race Saturday should set up perfect for him.”
Howard’s other current leading 3-year-old, Gaillardia
Stable’s Wilkinson, breezed the same distance in the same time Monday
and won Fair Grounds’ Grade III Lecomte Stakes Jan. 22 as the first leg
of the three-race local sophomore series. Wilkinson remained possible for
Saturday’s Risen Star until Howard and owner Ed Gaylord conferred after
Monday’s work.
“(Wilkinson) worked good,” said Howard, “but he had a hard
race in the Lecomte and he’s had three races over the track already this
season, and when you’re changing your mind (about whether or not to run
Wilkinson in the Risen Star) every 15 minutes or so – there’s a reason you’re
hedging. These horses are still young and very vulnerable at this stage of
their careers, so I’ve found out that when you’re in doubt like that the best
thing to do is stay in the barn. However, I would say that the Louisiana Derby
is definitely in the cards for Wilkinson.”