Friesan Fire installed as 5-2 choice in Louisiana Derby

The Larry Jones-trained FRIESAN FIRE (A.P. Indy) rates as the 5-2 favorite on

the morning line for Saturday's $600,000

Louisiana Derby (G2),

where he will attempt a clean sweep of the major three-year-old stakes at Fair

Grounds.

Victorious in the Lecomte S. (G3) and Risen Star S. (G3) in his first two

outings of the year, Friesan Fire drilled five furlongs in a bullet :58 1/5

Monday morning at Fair Grounds. His time was the fastest of 29 at the distance

on the fast track.

"The horse is just getting very, very good right now," Jones said. "He did it

without being asked."

Regular rider Gabriel Saez, who was aboard for Monday's bullet work, will guide the bay from post 9 in a 10-horse field.

Friesan Fire will renew rivalry with several familiar

faces, while meeting three new shooters -- Southern California invader PAPA CLEM

(Smart Strike), Florida shipper FREE COUNTRY (Big Country) and the reappearing

TERRAIN (Sky Mesa).

Papa Clem exits a gallant runner-up effort to Pioneerof the Nile (Empire

Maker) in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride. Finishing a

close third was I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even), who went on to rout the field

in this past Saturday's Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct. If Papa Clem takes to the

dirt half as well as I Want Revenge did, the Gary Stute charge looms as a top

contender. Rafael Bejarano makes the trek to stick with Papa Clem.

Free Country captured his first two starts for Ken McPeek, a Churchill Downs

maiden and a Gulfstream Park allowance, but did not thrive on the Tampa Bay

Downs surface in the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) last time out. Fourth as the 9-5

favorite in that affair, the dark bay will try to make amends beneath a

returning Kent Desormeaux.

Terrain, who has been wintering at Fair Grounds, posted a bullet six-furlong

move in 1:13 3/5 on March 6. Last seen finishing fifth in the Delta Jackpot S.

(G3) in December, the Al Stall Jr. gelding had previously put together a solid

juvenile campaign. Terrain won the Mountaineer Juvenile S. and was promoted to

victory via disqualification in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3).

Moreover, he twice beat Pioneerof the Nile, namely when finishing second to

Square Eddie (Smart Strike) in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and a rallying fourth

to champion Midshipman (Unbridled's Song) in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

Julien Leparoux comes in for the ride.

Friesan Fire defeated the late-running PATENA (Seeking the Gold) by 1 1/2

lengths in the one-mile Lecomte, but a lot has changed for the runner-up in the

interim. Subsequently purchased by IEAH Stables and transferred to Richard

Dutrow's barn at Gulfstream, Patena will make his first start for his new

connections on Saturday.

Two weeks ago, Dutrow said that he has been "clearing different issues" with the

colt, but that "it all seems to be coming together."

On Monday, Patena vindicated that assessment by working five furlongs in a

bullet :59 2/5 over Gulfstream's fast track, tying for the best of 20 trials at

the trip.

"He obviously has a lot of talent," Dutrow said after Monday's move, "and

we're very pleased with what he showed us in his work today. We're very happy

with him right now."

Patena, the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, figures to enjoy the added

ground in the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana Derby. Robby Albarado, who rode him in the

Lecomte, will be back in he saddle as he breaks from post 3.

The second- through sixth-place finishers from the Risen Star, contested at

this same distance, are all lining up against Friesan Fire once more.

Risen Star runner-up FLYING PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) ran a terrific race

that day, considering that he broke from post 12, had not raced for nearly five

months, and was making his two-turn debut. The Ralph Nicks pupil was beaten a

total of two lengths by Friesan Fire, and with that experience under his belt,

Flying Pegasus is eligible to turn the tables.

Interestingly, in his final start at two, Flying Pegasus finished second in

the Futurity S. (G2) at Belmont, with Friesan Fire third. John Velazquez comes

in for the mount aboard the colt, who is better drawn in post 5 this time.

Horseman Steve Asmussen will send out UNO MAS (Macho Uno) and SOUL WARRIOR

(Lion Heart). Uno Mas had upset Friesan Fire in a December allowance at Fair

Grounds, but he has not been able to challenge him since, checking in fourth in

the Lecomte and third in the Risen Star. Brian Hernandez Jr. retains the mount.

Soul Warrior, who was last early in the Risen Star, finished well for sixth

despite a problematic trip. Shaun Bridgmohan, aboard for his smart maiden win

over the track in December, will reunite with the Zayat Stables colt.

Each breezed a half-mile at Fair Grounds Monday, with Soul Warrior clocking

:50 1/5 and Uno Mas finishing up in :50 3/5.

NOWHERE TO HIDE (Vindication), fourth in the Risen Star, ships in from

Florida for Nick Zito, while the locally based GIANT OAK (Giant's Causeway), a

troubled fifth in the Risen Star, will hope for smoother sailing with new rider

James Graham. Two starts back, the Chris Block trainee was a near-miss second to

Beethoven (Sky Mesa) in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2).