Hero of Order pulled off a shocking 99-1 upset in the $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) this afternoon at Fair Grounds, holding off a late bid from Mark Valeski to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby (gr. I) prep race by a half-length.
Ridden to victory by E. M. Martin, Jr., Hero of Order got off to an excellent start from gate twelve and settled into the second position early on as Comisky's Humor set a quick pace of :23.39 and :47.27. Cigar Street was right behind them in third, followed along the rail by Windsurfer and on the outside by Mark Valeski. Shared Property and Z Dager were next, while Afford, Mr. Bowling, Fire Alarm, Finnegans Wake, Rousing Sermon, and Flashy Sunrise completing the order of finish.
Moving down the backstretch and into the far turn, Hero of Order moved up to challenge Comisky's Humor for the lead and soon took over. But Mark Valeski and Cigar Street were looming on the outside, and the trio turned for home with little more than a length and a half between them.
Certainly everyone in the stands was expecting Mark Valeski to take over the lead; to draw away to a powerful victory. But Hero of Order proved extremely tenacious in the stretch, and continued on gamely to the finish to defeat Mark Valeski in an unbelievable upset. The final time for nine furlongs was 1:50.13.
Rousing Sermon rallied fast late to finish third, giving the impression of being a colt that wants more ground, while Cigar Street, Shared Property, Windsurfer, Afford, Z Dager, Fire Alarm, Finnegans Wake, Flashy Sunrise, Mr. Bowling, and Comisky's Humor completed the order of finish.
Hero of Order paid $220.80 to win, $79.20 to place, and $25.40 to show. Trained by Gennadi Dorochenko, Hero of Order collected $600,000 for winning the race and will most likely make his next start in the $2,000,000 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) on May 5th.
-Keelerman
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