Kingsbarns Wins the 2023 Louisiana Derby

Kingsbarns, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, won the 2023 Louisiana Derby on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Fair Grounds Race Course. The 3-year-old colt finished the 1 3/16-mile race in 1:58.21, earning 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Kingsbarns broke well from the gate and took the lead early, setting fractions of 23.64 seconds for the quarter-mile and 47.90 seconds for the half-mile. He continued to lead through the turn and into the stretch, drawing away from the field to win by 4 1/4 lengths.

“He’s a really nice horse,” Geroux said. “He’s got a lot of natural speed, and he’s very easy to ride. He’s got a big future ahead of him.”

Disarm finished second, followed by Jace’s Road and Shoppers Revenge.

The Louisiana Derby is a Grade 2 race that is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The winner earns 100 points, which puts them in a good position to qualify for the Derby.

Kingsbarns is a son of Tapit, who won the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He is out of the mare La Volpe, who won the 2000 Ashland Stakes.

Kingsbarns is a lightly raced colt, with just four starts before the Louisiana Derby. He won his first two starts, then finished second in his next two starts. He entered the Louisiana Derby off a win in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The Louisiana Derby is a good stepping stone for Kingsbarns on his way to the Kentucky Derby. He is a talented colt with a bright future.