NEW ORLEANS - Talk about preparing under game conditions. That's what trainer John Ward thought happened in the Louisiana Derby, a stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby.

	True Concern (left), Millennium Wind (7), Fifty Stars, (8) and Dollar Bill (right), drive for the finish line during the running of the Louisiana Derby.

"That's Derby style," Ward said after his horse, Hero's Tribute, finished third behind winner Fifty Stars and Millennium Wind on Sunday at the Fair Grounds. "That's what you expect in there, to get boxed around and knocked around."

Hero's Tribute, ridden by Jorge Chavez, was checked several times.

Dollar Bill, who finished fourth a head behind Hero's Tribute, clipped the heels of Gracie's Dancer with about a quarter-mile remaining and almost fell.

"I clipped heels and lost all chance," said jockey Pat Day.

"The (good) trip won the race," said Steve Asmussen, trainer of Fifty Stars.

While the upset two-length victory put Fifty Stars ($43) into the Kentucky Derby picture, it did not knock Hero's Tribute, Dollar Bill or Millennium Wind of it.

Fifty Stars, who completed the 1 1-16 miles in 1:44 3-5 under scale weight of 122 pounds to snap a two-race losing streak, is scheduled to race in the Lone Star Derby at Lone Star Park on April 7 before going to Kentucky.

Hero's Tribute remains one of Ward's three Kentucky Derby hopefuls. He's scheduled to start in the Blue Grass on April 14 at Keeneland. Florida Derby winner Monarchos is headed for the Wood Memorial on April 14 at Aqueduct. Holiday Thunder is set to start in the Spiral on March 24 at Turfway Park.

Dollar Bill, winner of the Risen Star on Feb. 18 at the Fair Grounds, is expected to start in the Blue Grass.

Millennium Wind, making his first start since winning the Santa Catalina on Jan. 21 at Santa Anita, will return to his California base. It was not determined what his final Kentucky Derby prep would be.