NEW ORLEANS — Emerging Market galloped the outside of four horses in the final three furlongs to win the $1 million Louisiana Derby by a margin over Pavlovian on Saturday, giving the Chad Brown-trained horse enough Kentucky Derby qualifying points to advance into the Triple Crown opener.
Led by Flavien Prat, EM led 2-1 in the ninth leg and were nearly neck-and-neck with leader Pavlovian in the final stretch before taking the lead from the penalty line.
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“I was a little worried about the nine holes, but we had a good score,” Platt said. “He fought hard. He ran a good race and was very professional. To be honest, when I turned around and went home, I thought I was going to win easily, but Pavlov gave us a good challenge.”
Chip Honcho, the 3-1 favorite in the morning session in the nine-horse field, left the staring gate with Luis Saez, the Steve Asmussen-trained colt racing near the front until the final turn before dropping to fifth.
Emerging Market is now the winner of both races he has entered, finishing the 1 3/16 mile in 1:55.18 and paying $6, $4 and $2.80. The Grade 2 victory also earned him 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Pavlovian, a 21-1 long shot, paid 13.60 and 5.80 and scored 50 points to increase his season total to 70 points.
Lecomte Stakes winner Golden Tempo got off to a 3-1 start and worked a late attack to the inside under Jose Ortiz to finish third. The Cherie DeVaux-trained colt paid $3.20 and earned 25 points, bringing her total to 60 points.
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Universe is fourth with 15 points, while Chip Honcho has 10 points.
Meanwhile, a 7-year-old gelding owned by former NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme won the Grade II New Orleans Classic for a record $500,000. Touchuponastar ran 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 46.84 seconds, breaking Nates Mineshaft’s record of 1 minute, 47.64 seconds set in 2012.