Girvin Profile

In what is considered the marquee prep race of the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the Louisiana Derby (G2), Girvin reminded the horseracing community he’s ready for the 143rd annual Kentucky Derby (G1). By defeating runner-up Patch by 1 1/4 lengths, the Joe Sharp-trained Girvin not only galloped off with $600,000 for the win, but he was also awarded with 100 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Adding Girvin’s 100 points from his Louisiana Derby win to the 50 points he earned for winning the Risen Star Stakes (G2) in late February shot him to the very top of the Kentucky Derby prep race points leaderboard with 150 total points. With only one race remaining (Arkansas Derby) that awards 100 points for a first-place finish, there’s a good chance Girvin will head into the Kentucky Derby atop the points standings.

“He’s a talented horse and we’re just enjoying the ride,” trainer Sharp told BloodHorse’s Alicia Wincze Hughes following Girvin’s Louisiana Derby Win.

The son of multiple graded stakes winner Tale of Ekati, Girvin has blazed a winning trail on the track in a short amount of time. He won his maiden late last year at Fair Grounds and followed that up with a second-place finish in the Keith Gee Memorial Overnight Stakes before winning his last two graded stakes races in the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby.

Winning the Louisiana Derby proved he’s not a one-hit wonder and with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. touting his athletic ability, Girvin should head into this year’s Kentucky Derby as one of the top contenders to win it all.