NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tiztasitic galloped past three horses down the stretch to win the $1 million Louisiana Derby by two lengths on Saturday, earning the Steve Asmussen-trained horse enough Kentucky Derby qualifying points to enter the opening race of the Triple Crown.
Going off at 9-1 from the third post, Tiztastic cruised just behind a tight pack of six frontrunners before picking up the pace in the final turn and was fourth by the time jockey Joel Rosario steered him on to the back stretch.
John Hancock, 2-1 favorite in the 10-horse field, took the early lead from the first post position and didn't relinquish it until Built, the third-place finisher in last month's Risen Star Stakes, pulled even entering the final turn.