111-1 longshot Hero of Order wins Louisiana Derby
April 1, 2012NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Hero of Order, the longest shot in the field at 111-1, won the $1 million Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on Sunday at the Fair Grounds.
Hero of Order had the lead near the rail entering the stretch and held off pre-race favorite Mark Valeski by about half-a-length, winning in a time of 1:50.13.
Hero of Order paid $220.80, $79.20 and $25.40. The horse, ridden by Eddie Martin Jr. and trained by Gennadi Dorochenko, had finished a distant fourth in the Risen Star Stakes, the major prep race for the Louisiana Derby.
Mark Valeski, which lost by a nose to El Padrino in the Risen Star Stakes, appeared on the verge of catching Hero of Order midway through the stretch but did not make up enough ground.
Rousing Sermon finished third.