Oaklawn-raced Mr. Z tries Louisiana Derby

NEW ORLEANS -- Mr. Z, the third-place finisher in the Smarty Jones and Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park earlier this year, will break from post No. 2 in a field of nine in Saturday's $750,000 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

Mr. Z, trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, passed on the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn when owner Ahmed Zayat shipped 2-year-old champion American Pharoah to Hot Springs. Zayat owns both horses and doesn't want to run them head to head until the Kentucky Derby, if they make it that far.

Mr. Z will race without blinkers after drifting out with the lead in the Smarty Jones, then getting caught in a speed duel out of the extreme outside post in the Southwest Stakes.

International Star, who is aiming to sweep all three Kentucky Derby prep races at Fair Grounds, has been made the 3-1 early favorite and drew the No. 9 post in the 1 1/8-mile race.

International Star is trained by Mike Maker, ridden by Miguel Mena and is coming off victories in the Risen Star last month and the Lecomte in January.

Tom Amoss-trained War Story was the runner-up to International Star in both races and, like Mr. Z, is 4-1.

International Star ranks second in Kentucky Derby qualifying points with 71. War Story has 24 points and Mr. Z has 14.

In two other Kentucky Derby prep races scheduled for Saturday, a field of nine is entered in the Grade I $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla. Upstart, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes, and Itsaknockout, who won the Fountain of Youth via disqualification, will be the favorites. ... In a third 3-year-old prep with qualifying points, the 1 mile, 3/16 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, drew a field of 10 3-year-olds, including U.S.-based My Johnny Be Good.

DUBAI WORLD CUP

Chrome polished

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- California Chrome, last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner and 2014 Horse of the Year, tops an international field of nine Saturday for the $10 million Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race.

Trainer Art Sherman said California Chrome, a 4-year-old colt, has been training well this week at Meydan Racecourse, and is all set for a winning performance.

California Chrome will be ridden by Victor Espinoza and break from the outside No. 9 post.

"I love it. Nine is a perfect position for our horse," Sherman said. "I've got all the speed horses to the inside of me and he loves to run from the outside.

"I'm just really glad to be here. We've gotten a lot of texts. He's a rock star all around the world."

California Chrome will try to become the third Kentucky Derby winner to win the World Cup. Silver Charm won in 1998, and Animal Kingdom won in 2013.

The race, about 1 1/4 miles, will be run on a dirt track for the first time at Meydan. Post time is 9 p.m. local time, Noon Central time.

The field, from the rail out, is Prince Bishop, Hokko Tarumae, African Story, Side Glance, Lea, Candy Boy, Long River, Epiphaneia and California Chrome.

Lea is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who won the first World Cup with Cigar in 1996.

Sports on 03/27/2015

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