Yinzer put the pieces together for a frontrunning maiden win on February 15 in New Orleans and aims high for a repeat Saturday in the $1-million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. The Grade 2 event offers 100-50-25-15-10 in qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby and will air live on CNBC and Peacock.

Yinzer’s breakthrough victory came a few hours before Magnitude and jockey Ben Curtis upset the Risen Star Stakes (G2) with the same kind of tactics for trainer Steve Asmussen. In the Louisiana Derby, Curtis will take the reins on Yinzer. The English native Curtis has only had a handful of mounts for the Asmussen barn but has delivered two Graded stakes wins, both north of 40-to-1 odds, and both leading at every point of call.

A Hall of Famer, Asmussen has won the Louisiana Derby four times.

West Point and racing partners C.J. Stables and W. S. Farish acquired Yinzer at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale.

Next week, West Point will pursue Kentucky Derby dreams with Sandman in the $1.5-million Arkansas Derby (G1) on March 29 at Oaklawn. And on April 5, Statesman will tackle the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct.