TUSSLE AT TURFWAY: The Jeff Ruby Steaks, at 1 ⅛-mile, featuring a diverse crop of a dozen three-year-olds hoping to punch their ticket to the Kentucky Derby, highlights a 13-race card, which includes several other stakes contests. Out-of-town super riders Luis Saez, Javier Castellano, Frankie Dettori and Jose Ortiz are listed to ride in several stakes … Post time for Race 1 at Turfway is 12:45 p.m. ET/9:45 a.m. PT.

Turfway Park

Race 7 (3:43 p.m. ET/12:43 p.m. PT) — $250K Animal Kingdom Stakes for 3YOs, six furlongs

#8 VOTE NO (5-1 morning line) returns to sprint for Morey-Corrales team. He’s three for five lifetime, including an easy score two back.

Race 8 (4:13 p.m. ET/1:13 p.m. PT) — $250K Rushaway Stakes for 3YOs, 1 1/16-mile

#12 FOOTPRINT (6-1 morning line) v. full field of peers. Trainer Kenny McPeek ships the colt in from Oaklawn, adds blinkers, and brings Julien Leparoux back to ride.

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS: The Louisiana Derby, another traditional stepping stone for three-year-olds aiming for a spot in the gate at Churchill Downs the first Saturday in May, draws a deep field of 11 colts going 1 ⅛ -mile at the Fair Grounds. Several out-of-town jockeys are listed to ride in stakes, including Johnny Velazquez, Joel Rosario, Tyler Gaffalione, Flavien Prat and Irad Ortiz Jr. Also, keep an eye on local circuit up-and-comer Jareth Loveberry. Post time for Race 1 at Fair Grounds is 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

Fair Grounds

Race 9 (4:04 p.m. ET/1:04 p.m. PT) — G2 $500K New Orleans Classic at 1 ⅛-mile, 4YOs & up

#9 BEST ACTOR (7-2 morning line) to steal this contest on the front end for top trainer Brad Cox and regular rider Flavien Prat. Oscar-winning performance.

Race 11 (5:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. PT) — G2 $400K Fair Grounds Oaks at 1 1/16-mile, 3YO fillies

#6 INTRICATE (2-1 morning line) under Tyler Gaffalione to prevail over the seven sophomore gals.

Race 12 (6:42 p.m. ET/3:42 p.m. PT) — G2 $1 million Louisiana Derby at 1 3/16-mile

#11 TUSCAN GOLD (8-1 morning line) to upset the sophomore field in the prestigious Kentucky Derby qualifier. The pricy son of Medaglia d’Oro is trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. Poised to repeat his maiden romp at Gulfstream, the sophomore should handle the extra distance and is getting Lasix for the second time. Others to respect: #2 HALL OF FAME (8-1), #5 CATCHING FREEDOM (4-1) and #12 TRACK PHANTOM (3-1)

Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds, Race #12

Fair Grounds’ final prep of the Derby season has a field of twelve 3-year-olds signed on, with the winner locking up enough points to make the gate at Churchill. Runner up in the Risen Star, #12 Track Phantom gets hung wide for the second straight race but was able to clear and just miss. The setup seems to be similar again today. Track Phantom should clear and make the lead, the main question will be the added distance and the trip the horses behind him will get.

The #5 Catching Freedom is a horse I have been high on for a while. He has taken a step forward in each start, but he still has not been able to get his head in the game. In the Risen Star, he looked like he had a chance, but he could not run in a straight line in the stretch and was tired. I expect him to step forward again, but he needs to mature. Right now, his talent is further along than his mental progression.

#2 Hall of Fame is also back for more after the Risen Star. On paper, the trip did not look too bad, but when you rewatch the race, you realize he never had a chance. He was in traffic for much of the race and reacted poorly to the muddy kickback that he faced that day. Today, the draw is ideal. He will break from the two post with enough speed to sit directly behind Track Phantom and #3 Antiquarian. He has shown the ability. Today that should link up with a good trip.

Another horse who clearly has not figured it out yet is the #7 Honor Marie. Watching his Risen Star, it’s shocking he ran as well as he did. For close to a half mile, he was disinterested in the race, but once he got his mind on racing, he started gobbling up ground. I expect him to run better, but it may be too ambitious to put him in the top spot.