The $1 million Louisiana Derby tests Triple Crown hopefuls over 1-3/16 miles and provides a mix of the local stakes establishment against some of the most successful national outfits from Florida and California. It’s the last of 7 stakes on a 14-race program that begins at 1 pm ET.

Horseplayers with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet take advantage of up to a $10 money-back special promo on Triple Crown prep race win bets, featuring Saturday’s Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds as well as the Jeff Ruby at Turfway Park. Get up to $10 back if your win bet finishes second or third when you bet with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Also play the $3,000 Exacta-Thon involving both full cards.

Let’s meet the contenders for the Louisiana Derby (Race 12):

#1-PAVLOVIAN: Santa Anita-based road warrior exits a nose victory in the Sunland Derby in New Mexico last month. That win snapped a 7-race losing streak for the Reddam Racing home-bred who competes for 2-time Kentucky Derby winner Doug O’Neill. Edwin Maldonado has the return mount on the California-bred son of Pavel.

#2-AUTOBAHN: Third-start maiden braker stretched out nicely to 1-1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 21 and makes his stakes debut Saturday. Brad Cox trained 2024 Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom, adding to his 2020 victory by Wells Bayou. Marcellino Pedroza gets the mount as Irad Ortiz Jr. opts to ride at Turfway on Saturday. Son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist.

#3-CHIP HONCHO: Gun Runner Stakes winner will be the only horse to compete in all 4 Louisiana Derby series races, adding a fourth in the Lecomte and second in the Risen Star most recently. Trainer Steve Asmussen won this race last year with Tiztastic, his record fifth Louisiana Derby score. Luis Saez returns to ride the Connect colt, who rematches a third time here with Golden Tempo, splitting previous decisions.

#4-UNIVERSE: Saratoga debut winner has dropped 5 straight, including a no-threat fourth in the Risen Star over this track last month. The $75K son of Global Campaign has kept top-class running lines and posted a bullet local workout for this on Saturday. Kenny McPeek saddled 2002 Louisiana Derby winner Repent. Brian Hernandez guided Girvin to Louisiana Derby glory in 2017.

#5-GOLDEN TEMPO: Lecomte Stakes winner and Risen Star third-place finisher will add blinkers for the first time. Trainer Cherie DeVaux had her Curlin colt working in company with Blue Grass-bound stablemate Reagan’s Honor while experimenting with the hood. Jockey Jose Ortiz comes into the week a runaway leader in the standings as he defends his title as leading jockey. He’s also won a current meet-best 8 stakes races with 13-27 in the exacta.

#6-SPIRIT OF ROYAL: Trainer Dallas Stewart won the 1999 Louisiana Derby with Kimberlite Pipe. He’ll be a big longshot to end that 27-year drought when this 62-1 Southwest Stakes ninth-place finisher takes another big bite of the apple. Francisco Arrieta comes in from Oaklawn to ride this 1-for-7 son of Global Campaign (same sire as Universe in this field).

#7-BLACKSMITH: The Los Alamitos Futurity runner-up took 5 tries to break his maiden, getting the job done Feb. 20 at Santa Anita as the 3-5 chalk. Bob Baffert’s lone Louisiana Derby success came with Wimbledon in 2004. Florent Geroux, who left Fair Grounds earlier this year to tack up at Santa Anita, rode him to the west coast win and makes a homecoming of sorts Saturday. The $525K son of Liam’s Map makes his first start on the road.

#8-EASTERLY: Gulfstream Park maiden breaker Feb. 7 in his second start gets his first stakes test, but note he debuted second to Class President, who exited that race to win an allowance and Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes. Trainer Brad Cox’s second chance in this field at notching a third Louisiana Derby score since 2020. Gulfstream rider Edgard Zayas retains the mount and makes a rare road appearance.

#9-EMERGING MARKET: Fast and determined debut winner Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs on the Sam F. Davis Stakes undercard. Outlasted promising Powershift for Todd Pletcher, though that one bounced badly next out when sixth in the Tampa Bay Derby on 2 weeks’ less rest. Chad Brown seeks a first Louisiana Derby score, finishing third here in 2024 with Tuscan Gold. He’s raided Fair Grounds to win the Risen Star in ’24 with Sierra Leone and last month with Paladin. Flavien Prat won this race in 2003 with Kingsbarns and 2024 aboard Catching Freedom.