Derby Hopefuls Put to Test in Louisiana

Less than two months before the Kentucky Derby, the Fair Grounds in New Orleans will offer the most compelling 3-year-old race so far this year on Sunday.

Kafwain, the future book favorite for the Derby, and Badge Of Silver, the most impressive winner of a 3-year-old race this year, will get together for the first time in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby.

A consistent, if unspectacular, 2-year-old for the Thoroughbred Corporation and trainer Bob Baffert in 2002, Kafwain won his first start of the year in the San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 1 at Santa Anita. He was dominant at seven furlongs, winning by 4 1/2 lengths under jockey Victor Espinoza.

With injured Vindication, his stablemate and 2-year-old champion, off the Derby trail, and with top contender Toccet also sidelined, Kafwain, a son of 1994 Sprint champion Cherokee Run, vaulted to the top of most lists for the Derby, which will be run for the 129th time May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Ronny Werner, who, like Baffert, began as a quarter horse trainer, Badge Of Silver has made no mistakes in three well-spaced starts. His average margin of victory has been almost nine lengths.

The son of Silver Deputy won his debut at Keeneland by daylight last spring, then injured his right foreleg. He returned with another easy sprint win early this year, then stretched out for the first time in the Risen Star on Feb. 16.

After tracking the early pace under Robby Albarado, Badge Of Silver widened around the turn and through the stretch, winning by 10 lengths. The Louisiana Derby, at 1 1/16 miles, will be tougher, but, unlike Kafwain, he is proven over the Fair Grounds surface.

“I think that home field is always an advantage,” said Werner, who has never had a starter in the Kentucky Derby. “Horses are more comfortable when they’re at their home base. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to win the race. A better, faster horse can come in and win.”

With the Louisiana Derby coming three weeks after the Risen Star, Werner originally was going to skip the race and give his colt more time. However, Badge Of Silver has rebounded well and he’ll try to remain perfect.

“Three weeks is quick to come back and I still don’t like it, but he’s telling me he’s ready,” Werner said.

“He’s been eating well and he’s sound and I feel like he’s in pretty good shape right now.”

Badge Of Silver will break from the outside in the field of 10.

Another notable in the Grade II is Peace Rules. Scratched from last week’s San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita, the son of Jules is moving back to the dirt, a surface on which he has had no success, for trainer Bobby Frankel. All of his victories have been on turf. Edgar Prado will ride.

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Ministers Wild Cat, a half-brother of 2000 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner War Chant, will break from the outside in a field of 10 in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby today at Golden Gate Fields.

Owned by Irving and Marjorie Cowan and trained by Neil Drysdale, who won the Kentucky Derby three years ago with Fusaichi Pegasus, Ministers Wild Cat has won two of three, including the Golden State Mile at Golden Gate on Feb. 9.

Kent Desormeaux will again ride the son of Deputy Minister, who will be favored to win in his first attempt at 1 1/16 miles. If the colt wins, he will face a sterner test in his next start. Drysdale indicated the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 5 or the $500,000 Wood Memorial a week later at Aqueduct would be next for Ministers Wild Cat.

Three other local riders will be involved in the El Camino Real. Mike Smith will be aboard Ocean Terrace, perfect in two sprints for trainer Bob Hess Jr.; Jose Valdivia will ride Ozzie Cat for trainer Wayne Lukas, and Tyler Baze has the mount on California-bred Crackup for trainer Rafael Becerra.