International Star tops nine-horse Louisiana Derby

"We have a good enough horse; we'll be fine," Maker said of the outside post.

Campaigned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the reigning back-to-back Eclipse

Award-winning owners, International Star would be the first sophomore to sweep

all three races since Friesan Fire in 2009.

War Story (Northern Afleet) will be looking to turn the tables on his rival

after finishing second in the Lecomte and Risen Star. Installed as the 4-1

co-second choice, the Tom Amoss-trained gelding has never finished worse than

second in four career outings, capturing his first two outings at Churchill

Downs (maiden special weight) and Fair Grounds (entry-level allowance). Joe

Talamo will pick up the mount on the stalker.

Risen Star third-placer Keen Ice (Curlin) and fourth-placer St. Joe Bay

(Saint Anddan) will also be back for the Louisiana Derby. The late-running Keen

Ice is listed as 5-1 co-fourth choice for Dale Romans and retains the services

of James Graham. Risen Star pacesetter St. Joe Bay is expected to show speed

once again for Peter Miller and the 10-1 outside adds a new pilot in Robby

Albarado.

Mr. Z (Malibu Moon), who is 4-1 on the morning line, invades from Oaklawn

Park for Hall of Fame conditioner D. Wayne Lukas. Third in both the Smarty Jones

and Southwest (G3) this season, the chestnut colt has placed in a total of seven

stakes since capturing his debut last June. Mr. Z will shed blinkers after

wearing the headgear in his last five starts and Kent Desormeaux will take over

the reins.

Stanford (Malibu Moon) will represent leading trainer Todd Pletcher in the

Louisiana Derby. An allowance/optional claiming scorer in 2015 bow at

Gulfstream, the bay colt finished second most recently in the 1 1/8-mile

Islamorada on March 6 but was disqualified and placed sixth by the stewards. He

receives a new jockey in Florent Geroux and is an early 5-1.

Rounding out the field are a trio of expected longshots: A Day in Paradise

(Yes It's True), Defondo (El Corredor) and Fusaichi Flame (Fusaichi Pegasus).

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