Mr. Z Drops Blinkers for Louisiana Derby
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Zayat Stables' Mr. Z will lose his blinkers for the $750,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) March 28 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
After running his previous five races with that equipment—including four graded stakes placings, which has him in 15th place in the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" standings—the son of Malibu Moon will shed them for the Triple Crown prep race. Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux is expected to be aboard Saturday.
"I think he'll be more relaxed this time," trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. "I took the blinkers off for this one and he's been training without them, and that's helped. He'll probably be forwardly placed."
Stabled at Oaklawn Park, Mr. Z will ship to New Orleans March 25, Lukas said.
"We're looking forward to being there," Lukas said. "We're going to work him on Tuesday, before we leave Oaklawn. Just a little maintenance work."
In his most recent race, the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Feb. 22, the Kentucky-bred was close third—behind Far Right and The Truth Or Else—over the a sloppy and sealed track. He's earned $544,726, although he's still looking to enter the winner's circle for the first time since breaking his maiden in his debut at Churchill Downs last June.
Mr. Z's best performance was a third-place effort—beaten by a head in a blanket finish—behind Dortmund and Firing Line, in the Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I) Dec. 20.
Another likely entrant, also by Malibu Moon, in the 1 1/8-mile Louisiana Derby is Stanford, who would represent trainer Todd Pletcher.
Last time out, the colt was second to cross the wire, behind Florida Derby (gr. I)-bound stablemate Materiality, in Gulfstream Park's Islamorada Handicap March 6, although he was later disqualified to sixth for veering out sharply when turning into the backstretch.
The Kentucky-bred colt recorded his final workout in preparation for the Louisiana Derby at Palm Beach Downs March 21, breezing four furlongs in a bullet :48.14, the best of 30 moves at the distance.