Pants On Fire takes Louisiana Derby
March 26, 2011NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Pants On Fire came from just off the pace to win the $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course on Saturday.
Mucho Macho Man, the 3-2 favorite, finished third.
Sent off at odds of 6-1 and trained by Kelly Breen, Pants on Fire covered the 1 1-8 miles in 1:49.92 under jockey Rosie Napravnik.
Pants On Fire returned $14.60, $7.80, and $4.80. Nehro, sent out from the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen, brought $31.60 and $11.40 to place. Mucho Macho Man, trained by Kathy Ritvo, brought $2.80 to show.
Owned by George and Lori Hall, Pants On Fire came off a fourth-place finish in the Feb. 19 Risen Star Stakes (which was won by Mucho Macho Man) to take the Grade II Louisiana Derby. The son of Jump Start sat just behind front-runner Liondrive before making his move and holding off the closers.
It was a second career win in eight starts for Pant On Fire and the first graded stakes win of his career. The winner's share of the purse gives him $600,000 in graded earnings, ensuring a berth in the starting gate for the May 7 Kentucky Derby.