Louisiana Derby 2015: Post Time, Post Positions, Contenders Odds and Schedule
The 2015 Louisiana Derby is just another race in preparation of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, but the competition is stiff, and by no means is the fact that it's somewhat of a qualifying race signify there won't be top-notch horses in the field.
Fair Grounds Race Course has an entire day planned with multiple different races, but the main event is the Louisiana Derby. Nine horses are in the hunt for coveted points toward an entry into the Run for the Roses. Expect jockeys, trainers and owners to work their hardest in the days leading up to the event in hopes of making the most of the opportunity.
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While it's not the high-profile race that the Triple Crown events are, the Louisiana Derby has major implications. Read on to find out everything there is to know about the race.
Post Time and Race Day Schedule
| Costa Rising Stakes | $60,000 |
| Star Guitar Stakes | $60,000 |
| Crescent City Oaks | $75,000 |
| Crescent City Derby | $75,000 |
| Mervin H. Muniz, Jr. Memorial Handicap Grade II | $300,000 |
| New Orleans Handicap Grade II | $400,000 |
| Fair Grounds Oaks Grade II | $400,000 |
| Louisiana Derby Grade II | $750,000 |
Post time for the Louisiana Derby is 6:24 p.m. ET. The other races do not have times listed on the complex's official site, FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.
Post Positions and Odds
| 1 | Stanford | 5-1 |
| 2 | Mr. Z | 4-1 |
| 3 | Defondo | 12-1 |
| 4 | Fusaichi Flame | 20-1 |
| 5 | A Day in Paradise | 12-1 |
| 6 | War Story | 4-1 |
| 7 | Keen Ice | 5-1 |
| 8 | St. Joe Bay | N/A |
| 9 | International Star | 3-1 |
The Top Contender
Only two winners of this race have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby—Black Gold in 1924 and Grindstone in 1996. War Story, one of the highly favored horses in this year's edition of the race, is looking to become the third.
War Story must first win the Louisiana Derby to earn a shot at the larger prize, though owner Ron Paolucci believes even a runner-up performance might do the trick.
"If War Story finishes first or second on Saturday, he should qualify for the Kentucky Derby," Paolucci told D'Arcy Egan of The Plain Dealer.
While the horse has yet to garner national attention, there are some in the horse racing community already looking at War Story as a legit contender for the Kentucky Derby:
But the lone problem for War Story is a glaring one. He doesn't break well out of the gate, which can result in one of three outcomes. The most obvious is that he can overcome the slow start and win. The other two aren't as positive.
With a slow start, War Story could fall so far behind the lead that it would be extremely difficult to come back to win the race. The other outcome involves falling back, then using a burst of speed to catch up, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to maintain that faster pace long enough to finish the Louisiana Derby.
International Star, one of War Story's main competitors, was the benefactor of two slow starts by the favorite, as Jonathan Lintner of The Courier-Journal writes:
"In International Star's rail-riding victories in both the Lecomte Stakes and Risen Star Stakes, War Story got off slow and had to rally for 2nd. Amoss called the issue 'the difference between winning and losing a race like this' following a 1-length defeat in the Risen Star.
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A strong week of training should push War Story to a victory, even if the horse isn't favored as the winner in the days heading into the weekend. When Saturday evening comes around, look for War Story to prance in the winner's circle.
Kenny DeJohn is a Breaking News Team Featured Columnist. Follow him on Twitter.
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