3/21/26

15   FG   Mike LaRosa LA Derby (GII) [KYD]

$1,000.000  3yo   1 3/16th Dirt   122lbs                                     

More than any other race that I ever have the privilege to cover… TC races, BC races, you name it, none give me more pride and pleasure than the Mike LaRosa LA Derby (GII).  In a fantastic community of horse players, Mike stood tall, a leader, a visionary, a truly great man… I miss my friend, dearly.  But, I know him… “get to the races, Coz.. enough chatter!“. 

It’s a great lead-up to the KYD, more distance, more horses… it certainly helps a trainer know what he’s got, yet, where are the KYD winners from this race?  Does it take too much out of them?  Maybe…

Today, I’m looking at Apirana as the top selection… big race, big purse… big barn.  Mb knows hot to get the job done and this one is hitting on all eight right now.  That was an impressive late kick in the SUN Derby and anything close to that move should be enough to take down another big win today. 

Can the top selection be beaten?  Sure, and if so, I think Bold Intruder is a horse with the talent to do it.  He won over this track taking the Risen Star (GII) at 12/1 odds… it looks like the barn found something or is it just the added distance that has this one look sparkling? 

Forward Facing is another that looks to relish the added distance, so let’s put him on the bottom of our tri tickets.  He made up a lot of distance in the Risen Star (GII) and was 80/1 in that race – I like both of those points!  Third start for this owner… can he upset? 

Good luck to all the entrants… it shapes up to be one heck of a horse race!!  Just the way Mike would have liked it. 

Here’s The Field –

Fresh off of his maiden win, they go deep sea fishing yet again.  This one has raced in stakes company on three occasions, but hasn’t made any money in doing so.  Again, this looks like a tough task.

Sharp win in the Risen Star (GII) over this surface… his prior success was vs. NY-bred company, struggling in the Smarty Jones.  You know my hatred of the OP surface, so maybe this one is in form and could play a major role in the outcome.

Mixed results for this well-named gelding… Second in the Holy Bull (GIII) then didn’t show much in the FofY (GII) at GP, last out.  Prior he closed well but was off the board in the Jerome, so he’s going to have to fire his best shot to be part of this one. 

He’s been on the board in four of six starts and shows back to back wins coming into his first shot at graded foes.  he broke maiden at SA then won a 1X Alw race over this track.  Distance certainly seems to be his friend, so can he keep the improvement coming and land a big payday? 

Here’s one that might be very interested in these longer distances… closed well to be third in the Lecomte (GIII), then the same with third again in the Risen Star (GII), both over this surface.  Does that mean he will love the mile and three sixteenths… not necessarily, with his build, but you have to wonder. 

Two wins from five starts and only off the board one time, but it was last out in his first try against stakes types.  He’s been more of a grass horse and that last out was on a wet surface, so it’s easy to go back and forth on this one… could he improve?  yeah, but I’m going to look at some others. 

The first of three entrants from the Big Barn and this one is fresh off of a big win in the SUN Derby… not a graded race, but a very nice payday.  He was the runner up in the Pharoah (GI) at SA, struggled on BC Day, but has not lost in his sophomore campaign.  A lot to like here. 

Two wins from four starts and makes the step up to take on the big boys after that OptAlw win at GP.  He’s done well in both two turn efforts, and won on a wet track, so you can certainly find some things to sink your teeth into with this gelding.  Watch him. 

Another out of that Risen Star (GII) race, over this surface, and this one took the minor share on that afternoon, closing fast, which does seem to be his style.  He’s changed hands twice, at a pretty penny, so they like him a lot.  He is an interesting entry that could be a big price…again. 

Second of three Mb entrants and this one is fresh off of a win in the Leonatus Stakes at TP.  He won that in wire to wire fashion, and speed is his friend.  Can he make it last for the distance here?  hmmmm, I’m not sure about that one.  Still he may spell rabbit or run-til-they-catch-me. 

He was fourth (DH) in the Sun Derby and likewise in the Allison Derby, both out in NM.  Only a maiden win to his credit, and that was vs. NY-breds, which is where he’s had most of his success.  He was the runner-up in the Gun Runner, so… that’s intrigues me, just a bit. 

I’m not sure what to make of this one, sprinting on the sod and now trying to go a route of ground on the main track.  He was fourth in the BC Juv Turf Spring (GI), third in a stakes at SA on the weeds, and showed little going a mile on the main track at DMR.  I guess we see. 

Mb catches the far outside with their third entrant and another that was in the Risen Star (GII) where he finished sixth.  He’s been more successful north of the border, showing wins at HST and WO.  He was a tiring third in the Smarty Jones at OP but the distance just doesn’t seem to be his friend. 

COZMAN  7 / 2 / 9     Willie’s Green Card  7 / 4 / 8        Ali Picks  7 / 10      

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2026, THE TRIPLE CROWN