Kingsbarns leads wire-to-wire to win $1M Louisiana Derby

NEW ORLEANS — Kingsbarns led wire to wire to win the $1 million Louisiana Derby by four lengths Saturday and earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Todd Pletcher, Kingsbarns ran 1 3/16 miles in 1:57.33 to remain unbeaten in three races. The 9-2 second favorite in the field of 12 paid $11 to win.

The result virtually assures the 3-year-old colt a spot in the 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby on May 6.

Pletcher already has the early Kentucky Derby favorite in Forte, who won the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream and is set to race again in next weekend's Florida Derby.

Disarm, which went off at 7-1, was second and Jace's Road, at 6-1 odds, was another two lengths back in third. Disarm earned 40 points for the Kentucky Derby, likely enough to make the field. Jace's Road earned 30 points and also could race at Churchill Downs.

Instant Coffee, the 3-2 favorite at post time and winner of the Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds in January, finished sixth after falling back to 10th early.