“First, I want to say how pleased I am with the distance of the series (Lecomte, Risen Star, Louisiana Derby) for the 3-year-olds here,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It was important for him (Epicenter) to start at the mile then progress like he has through the longer distances and now we get to this race and the mile and three-sixteenth could be a separator. He has progressed well through each of these steps and his progress has been very encouraging up to this point and he will just have to prove it again on Saturday.”

Epicenter has thrived at Fair Grounds this winter, winning the Gun Runner Stakes on December 26 in his final start as a 2-year-old before losing by a determined head in the Lecomte Stakes (G3). He parlayed that effort into an easy front-running score last month in the Risen Star (G2) presented by Lamarque Ford under Saturday’s rider Joel Rosario. The duo will leave from post six.

The Louisiana Derby has a total of 170 points up for grabs by way of a 100-40-20-10 dispersal to the top four finishers.  Epicenter has accumulated 64 points already securing his spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.

Asmussen and Winchell have won two previous Louisiana Derbies together, scoring in 2008 with Pyro and again with Gun Runner in 2016. Asmussen’s first of three Louisiana Derby wins came with Fifty Stars in 2001.

There is one horse on the grounds who defeated Epicenter this winter – Peter Cantrell and Benjamin Gase’s Call Me Midnight, winner of the Lecomte Stakes at a robust 28.50-to-1 under the meet’s leading rider James Graham. Epicenter did all the dirty work that day, carving out fast early fractions of 23 2/5 and 47, setting the table for Call Me Midnight’s late run.

The Keith Desormeaux trainee skipped the Risen Star last month hoping to have a fresher horse for the rigors of what he hopes is a journey on the Triple Crown trail.

“Right after the Lecomte, it seemed like a no brainer to come back in the Risen Star, but after talking it over with Pete (Cantrell) and putting all the factors out there to weigh, which included a heavy campaign as a 2-year-old and the great response he had after the time off he had between the Kentucky Jockey Club and the Lecomte, plus the fact that we’re not only planning on the Louisiana Derby but the Kentucky Derby, we just thought that, this is what the facts are telling us,” Desormeaux explained.

Desormeaux is confident that Call Me Midnight (6-1) has used his works to stay sharp, especially his March 12 drill which Desormeaux considers considerably better than the 6 furlongs 1:14.00 time reported.

“In the three-quarters work (March 12), I think the clockers missed him,” Desormeaux said. “He begins that work right in front of me and ends the work directly across from it, so it’s hard for me to miss. I thought that work was phenomenal. I’ve been at the Fair Grounds awhile, and I don’t think I’ve ever had one work 12 and change. He went from the quarter-pole to the wire in 23 and change with a great gallop out. It was just awesome. That was what I considered my last major work for him. This week was just to stretch out and have some fun and he responded with a 47 ⅖ (March 19), he finished up in 23 flat and galloped out 59 ⅘. He’s just happy. He came back to the barn after that work and it seemed similar to a gallop. It’s hard to get a horse who can do these kinds of things and he seems to be in fine form right now so we’re excited.”

Second choice in the field at 5-1 is Sumaya U.S. Stables’ Pioneer of Medina. The son of Pioneer of the Nile ships back to New Orleans for the third time this winter for trainer Todd Pletcher and gets his third different rider in jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Despite a fourth-place finish in the Risen Star, Pioneer of Medina has improved his speed figures in each of his six lifetime starts.

Co-third choice in the field at 6-1 is Breeders Cup Futurity (G1) winner Rattle N Roll for Lucky Seven Stable and trainer Kenny McPeek.

Rattle N Roll and Galt (8-1) both exit an eventful Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream on March 5. Rattle Roll finished sixth in his seasonal debut, while Galt escaped injury after losing his rider in a spill turning for home.

Kupuna and Zozos, a pair of allowance winners making their stakes debuts, are both listed at 8-1 on the morning line.

DERBY POINTS LEADERS