As always, Louisiana native sons are scheduled to ride in the run for the roses on the first Saturday in May.

 

Kent Desormeaux on Exaggerator

Robby Albarado on Oscar Nominated (#13 on leaderboard)

B.J. Hernandez, Jr. on Tom’s Ready (#16 on the leaderboard)

Corey Lanerie on Mo Tom (#20 on the leaderboard)

 

Trainers from Louisiana also figure into this year’s Derby equation.

Keith Desormeaux (with brother Kent in the irons) trains Exaggerator

Dallas Stewart, who was raised in Louisiana trains Tom’s Ready

Tom Amoss, a native of New Orleans is the trainer of Mo Tom

 

New Orleans sports magnate Tom Benson, not satisfied with simply owning New Orleans Saints football franchise and New Orleans Pelicans basketball team has ventured into horse racing with G M B Racing; owner of both Tom’s Ready and Mo Tom.

If these aren’t enough reasons for Louisiana racing fans to be swept up with Derby fever, Gun Runner won the G2 Louisiana Derby and the G2 Risen Star Stakes at New Orleans Fair Grounds, and Exaggerator won the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot.