Loooch Racing Stables and Chris Dunn’s War Story put the finishing touches on his preparation for the Grade II $750,000 Louisiana Derby (Mar.28) on Wednesday morning with a bullet work in :58.80 over the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots main track for trainer Tom Amoss. Working early in the morning, the son of Northern Afleet negotiated those five panels in a move that mirrored his bullet work at Oaklawn Park in :47 flat on Feb. 11 – his final preparation prior to a runner-up finish in the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 21.

“He came out of the work fine,” Amoss reported. “That’ll be our last breeze before we run. We worked him about the same amount of days out from the Risen Star and he ran well. We got on the track (Wednesday morning) when it was at its best; it was very quick and he was one of the first on it, plus he had a workmate. (Jockey) Joe Talamo will be in to ride for the race.”

Wednesday’s move followed gate work earlier in the week for the 3-year-old chestnut gelding – a drill to cure the compact chestnut of his aversion to a quick start. In both the Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 17 and the Risen Star on Feb. 21 – the first two of the triad of Fair Grounds graded sophomore stakes – the Kentucky-bred was off slowly before rallying to finish second behind budding nemesis International Star. He is expected to revive that rivalry when said Mike Maker trainee returns for the Louisiana Derby.