Country House, second last time out in the Risen Star, will return to Fair Grounds for the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 23. He also had been under consideration for the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel at 1 1/16 miles on March 16 at Oaklawn Park. He worked four furlongs in 49.20 seconds on Sunday at Payson Park.

“The Louisiana Derby is a mile and an eighth. I want him to go a mile and an eighth,” Mott said. “And with this particular horse, if I felt I needed to run him again because he needed points, he could run back. He’s a big, strong horse.”