Medoro and Usually Wrong Return for Louisiana Derby Preview Day Stakes
Medoro and Usually Wrong headline a stacked Louisiana Derby Preview Day at Fair Grounds, a key stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with stakes and Derby implications.
Proven series champions Medoro and Usually Wrong return to the Fair Grounds spotlight as Louisiana Derby Preview Day builds toward a high-stakes weekend that could shape early Kentucky Derby narratives. The 12-race card is set for Saturday, Feb. 14, with first post at noon CT and entries having been drawn Feb. 7.
Medoro tops the morning line for the $100,000 Albert M. Stall Memorial, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for older fillies and mares. The C R K Stable runner trained by Peter Eurton is listed at 9-5 and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz. The G3 winner rallied to catch Cupids Crush in the stretch to win the Marie G. Krantz on the Lecomte undercard, and has finished in the money in 12 of 13 career starts, including six wins and six graded-stakes placings. The Stall Memorial has attracted a field of nine, with other entrants including Sophie’s Cruiser (Isaac Castillo, Brett Brinkman, 20-1), Mo Expectations (Axel Concepcion, Brad Cox, 8-1), Feather Boa (Velazquez, Pletcher, 8-1) and Cupids Crush (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Robertson, 15-1).
The Colonel Power Stakes brings a speed element to Preview Day: a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older males carrying a $100,000 purse. BG Stables and Selman Shaby’s Usually Wrong is installed at 6-5 on the morning line for trainer Robertino Diodoro, reunited with jockey Isaac Castillo. The four-time stakes winner has eight wins from 11 starts and enters off a course-record performance in the Duncan F. Kenner, which has earned him top billing for Saturday’s sprint. The Colonel Power drew eight starters from the rail out: Can’t Deny It (Jareth Loveberry, Larry Rivelli, 12-1), Bear River (James Graham, Desormeaux, 6-1), Mondogetsbuckets (Gaffalione, Block, 6-1), Demolition Duke (Jose Ortiz, Brendan Walsh, 12-1), Usually Wrong (Castillo, Diodoro, 6-5), Built (John Velazquez, Catalano, 6-1), Autodrive (Brian Hernandez Jr., Calhoun, 8-1) and Champlin (Luis Saez, Greg Foley, 6-1).
Built and Autodrive add tactical intrigue as sharp 4-year-olds expected to make turf debuts in the Colonel Power. Built, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and conditioned by Wayne Catalano, once earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby 151 starting gate but connections opted for the Pat Day Mile; he returned in December to win a local six-furlong allowance.
The preview day carries broader stakes for Derby fans because it sits on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby. Louisiana Derby Preview Day serves as a lead-in to the Grade 2 $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star, which awards qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers, virtually assuring the winner of a spot in the starting gate. Fair Grounds barn notes list potential Risen Star names such as Paladin - the unbeaten Chad Brown trainee who earned 10 Derby points by winning December’s Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct - Courting, Chip Honcho, Carson Street, Quality Mischief, Liberty National and Universe.
Live racing runs Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 12-14, with the track dark Feb. 15 before Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras programs resume. Entries for Preview Day were drawn Feb. 7, and connections, bettors and Derby watchers will be parsing morning lines and tactical matchups as final declarations approach. -30-
Know something we missed? Have a correction or additional information?
Submit a Tip
