LA Derby: Gun Runner Faces Greenpointcrusader

Veterans Ford Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) winner Gun Runner will take on grade I winner Greenpointcrusader, who last finished second to Mohaymen in the Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II), when the two leave the starting gate side by side in the March 26 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Along with Gun Runner, who drew post one, seven other horses who contested the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star Feb. 20 will stretch out to 1 1/8 miles in pursuit of the Louisiana Derby's $1 million purse and Road to the Kentucky Derby points, awarded on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the top four finishers toward a place in the starting gate for the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Gun Runner currently ranks third on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 51 points, behind Mohaymen (70) and Destin (51). 

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Joining the Winchell Thoroughbreds runner are the next four from the Risen Star in half-length runner-up Forevamo, Mo Tom, Candy My Boy, and Zapperini. Those return along with Tom's Ready, who ran seventh, and Uncle Walter, who was last of 11.

Champagne Stakes (gr. I) winner Greenpointcrusader, departing the two hole, has not raced since the Jan. 30 Holy Bull—his season debut after a seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). He ranks 17th in Kentucky Derby qualifying points with 14, and leads a group of four invaders coming in through various routes to tackle the local runners.

The others are Ontario-bred Battery, winner of a Feb. 10 allowance for trainer Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park; Feb. 19 Oaklawn Park allowance winner Conquest Windycity for trainer Mark Casse; and Brad Cox trainee Dazzling Gem, also an allowance winner at Oaklawn on Feb. 13.

Greenpointcrusader has been tuning up for this start with a solid work pattern at Palm Meadows Training Center, including five furlongs in 1:02.30 March 18 for trainer Dominic Schettino. Gun Runner, who made his season debut a winning one with the Risen Star victory, has also been breezing well. He last worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00 3/5 for trainer Steve Asmussen March 14 at Fair Grounds.