Mark Valeski and Mr. Bowling to head the Louisiana Derby field
The post position draws for the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby are in, and with them the odds too, and after 26 March, 2012, Larry Jones would be l*****g his lips after the odds his duo will be sent at in the 1 1/8 mile dirt, which serves as a crucial
springboard to the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.
Brereton C. Jones homebred 3-year-old colts, Mark Valeski and Mr. Bowling, who are both trained by Larry Jones, will be heading a full field of 14 in the Louisiana Derby held at Fair Grounds Race Course on 1 April, 2012.
Both of these colts have been given the odds of 2 to 1 morning line favourites. The Kentucky bred son of Proud Citizen, out of mare Poncho’s Dream Girl by Fortunate Prospect, Mark Valeski is exiting a strong second which would have made his trainer proud.
He was behind El Padrino, in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes, where he was brutally nosed out by the winner at Fair Grounds Race Course at about 1 1/16 miles on 25 February, 2012.
Prior to the Risen Star Stakes, Mark Valeski was coming off two back to back wins, one in his maiden breaker at second asking and other in the allowance/optional claimer also at Fair Grounds Race Course. Both races were run over a distance of 6 furlongs.
The Kentucky bred son of Istan, out of mare Goldilock’s Bear by Irish Tower, Mr. Bowling was never in contention in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes, when Larry Jones found the same spot for his star sophomore colts, as Mr. Bowling finished a disappointing
11th on the day.
However, he did prove himself in his season opener in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes when he downed Z Dager and Shared Property in the stretch to win the race, as both the second and third finishers of the Lecomte Stakes are participating in the Louisiana Derby.
Mr. Bowling drew post number seven and Mark Valeski post number 8. Cigar Street after his 13 ¾ length maiden win is the 7 to 2 choice as Rousing Sermon is 6 to 1 in morning line.
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