LOUISIANA DERBY High Limit cruises to victory

The 5-2 favorite was never challenged and won by four lengths.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Bobby Frankel now knows what kind of horse he has in High Limit: a Kentucky Derby contender.
High Limit took the lead early and cruised to a four-length victory in Saturday's $600,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds, a major accomplishment for a lightly raced horse coming off a long layoff and moving up in class.
A winner in his first two starts at Delaware Park, High Limit was racing for the first time since Oct. 24, and for the first time since Frankel took over as the colt's trainer.
With regular rider Ramon Dominguez aboard, High Limit was never challenged by eight rivals in the 1 1/16th-mile Grade 2 race, a key prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 7.
"You never know until you run them yourself how they are going to run," Frankel said. "But I'm very, very happy."
Never challenged
High Limit, the 5-2 favorite despite only two previous starts, shot past Storm Surge a few strides out of the gate and was never challenged. He cruised along the backstretch with Vicarage in pursuit, followed by Storm Surge. And that's the way the three horses finished.
"He's not a secret horse anymore," Dominguez said. "For coming off a long layoff, he was real relaxed. I was not surprised by his performance."
Frankel's trip to sunny Louisiana was a complete success after odds-on favorite Badge of Silver regained the lead in the stretch and won the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap.
High Limit, a 3-year-old bay colt, was transferred from Tony Dutrow to Frankel's barn by owners Gary and Mary West in November, and Frankel worked his magic. High Limit was held out of the Hollywood Futurity in December with a minor hoof problem and was out of training for two months. Frankel brought him back slowly at Palm Meadows in Florida, increasing his workouts each week to prepare him for his seasonal debut.
And now, the road to the Derby is looking good for Frankel, who has won just about every race imaginable except the Kentucky Derby.
"He's a nice horse, hopefully this didn't take too much out of him," Frankel said.
High Limit, a Kentucky-bred son of Maria's Mon, could run next in either the Wood Memorial in New York on April 9 or the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland a week later.
Frankel has a knack for bringing horses to the winner's circle after long layoffs. The Hall of Famer won the 2003 Louisiana Derby with Peace Rules, who hadn't raced in more than three months before the victory.
High Limit covered the 1 1/16th miles in a swift 1:42.74 -- just 0.14 off the stakes record and fourth fastest for the race -- and returned $7.20, $6.20 and $4.40.
Vicarage finishes second
Vicarage, trained by Todd Pletcher, was a surprise runner-up and paid $16.80 and $9.80. Storm Surge, third in the Risen Star on Feb. 15, was third again and returned $4.80.
"He was a little headstrong early, but he settled in nice down the backside," said John Velazquez, who was aboard Vicarage. "I'm happy with the way he ran."
Wallstreet Scandal was fourth, followed by Real Dandy, Risen Star winner Scipion, Kansas City Boy, Sort It Out and Indy Storm.
Storm Surge also finished third in the Risen Star.
"He was in a good spot, a spot I was comfortable with," said Jerry Bailey, who rode Storm Surge. "I asked him to creep up closer before he turned for home, and that's as close as we got."
With the win, High Limit earned $360,000 for the Wests; the colt earned just $42,000 in breaking his maiden on Oct. 4 and then winning a one-mile allowance race 20 days later.