Catching Freedom, Tarifa win Derby, Oaks at Fair Grounds on big day for Cox, Prat

It is not where you start, it is where you finish.

Catching Freedom started slow and finished fast. Make that very fast.

Flavien Prat laid well off the pace and rallied from last in the 11-horse field, running down the field in the stretch to win the $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course Saturday.

The win is the third in five starts for Catching Freedom, earning the Brad Cox-trained horse 100 qualifying points and a certain spot in the Kentucky Derby May 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Catching Freedom clearly showed that he can get the 1 ¼ mile distance in the Kentucky Derby, having to go well wide, to the outside to run down his competitors at the 1 3/16 distance to win by one length in a time of 1:56.16 over Honor Marie. Tuscan Gold was third.

Race favorite Track Phantom set the pace and held the lead into the stretch before giving ground and finished fourth.

Cox and Prat completed their big day, with Prat guiding Tarifa to victory in the Fair Grounds Oaks, winning her third straight race at Fair Grounds, winning the 1 1/16 race in a time 1:43.24 in a three-quarter length victory to claim 100 points and a certain spot in the Kentucky Oaks May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Pace-setter Our Pretty Woman battled Tarifa all the way, finishing second. V V’s Dream finished third with Accommodate Eva fourth.

The 2023-24 Fair Grounds season ends today, with the Star Guitar Stakes highlighting the card.