Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes kicks of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series races. The 1 1/8 mile Grade 2 race at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans drew a full and competitive field of 13 runners and carries a purse of $500,000. The 15 Championship Series races over the next three months are essentially “Win and You’re In” qualifying races with the winner earning enough points to get into the starting gate for the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Opening pari-mutuel odds show East Avenue as the morning line favorite with top jockey Tyler Gaffalione riding. He’s 2-for-3 with a Grade 1 win and makes his 2025 debut after a poor 9th place showing in last November’s FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as the betting favorite.

Risen Star Field and Odds

Along with the favorite #4 East Avenue (9/5), the jockey brothers Jose and Irad Ortiz, Jr. ride two leading contenders in #2 Jonathan’s Way (4/1) and #3 Vassimo (8/1), who both break from the gate just inside East Avenue. Horse #9 Built (5/1) with jockey Luis Saez riding is a top win contender to challenge the favorite.

You can watch and wager on the Risen Star Stakes (7:30 p.m. ET) through FanDuel Racing, and FanDuel TV will be live on-site at Fair Grounds with exclusive coverage of the Risen Star Stakes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Expert analysis and behind-the-scenes coverage by FanDuelTV’s staff of the 13-race card includes six stakes races. Race 12 is the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Stakes presented by Horse Racing Nation. Race 13 is the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes for 3-year-old fillies awarding qualifying points (50-20-15-10-5) to the May 2 Kentucky Oaks.

Risen Star Picks

Along with FanDuel Racing coverage, I turned to the experts at Horse Racing Nation (HRN) and it’s Super Screener big stakes race analysis for more insight and complete race coverage.

Risen Star Win Contenders

• #4 East Avenue (9/5)
• #9 Built (5/1)

East Avenue is the most reliable board hitter (top-3) while top longshots include #1 American Promise (12/1) and #12 Vamos Carlitos (30/1). Horse #2 Jonathan’s Way, #10 Render Judgment and #7 Septarian (12/1) are suggested horses to use underneath in exacta and trifecta wagering.

Check back for select race and horse analysis.

Race 14 is the Risen Star Stakes, which tends to give an advantage to horses with early speed. Prior to last year’s race, the previous six winners at Fair Grounds were all racing first, second, or third after the opening half-mile. Sierra Leone won last year’s Risen Star as the 5/2 favorite fanning wide and sitting 9th at the half-mile marker before kicking into gear an winning by a half-length over the second betting choice.

Sierra Leone went on the lose the Kentucky Derby by a nose, but showed continued improvement while going on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The 2022 Risen Star winner Epicenter and third-place finisher Zandon went on to finish second and third in the 2022 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. In total, 33 starters in both the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby have run in the Kentucky Derby since 2013 — the most of any Kentucky Derby points prep races.

Rachel Alexander Stakes

Seven fine 3-year-old fillies battle for Kentucky Oaks qualifying points in Race 13. The Horse Racing Nation Super Screener picks these female horses as top win contenders.

Only Simply Joking is a top win contender with the favorite Good Cheer (6/5) to use underneath in the 7-horse field.

Fair Grounds Stakes

Race 12 is the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Stakes presented by Horse Racing Nation. The 1 1/8 mile turf race for older horses drew a field of 10.

• Taking Candy (4/1)
• #9 Higgins Boat (8/1)

Taking Candy with jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding is the most reliable board hitter. Higgins Boat is top value while #5 Relampago Verde (8/1) is top longshot. No. 2 Gigante (7/2) and #2 Unit Economics (5/1) are considerations to use underneath.

The Risen Star and Louisiana Derby have produced some notable Kentucky Derby challengers, and most recently some top finishers. In total, 38 starters in both the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby have run in the Kentucky Derby since 2013 — the most of any Kentucky Derby points prep races. That includes five horses from last year’s Risen Star Stakes. Follow these races and horses closely as the Road to the Kentucky Derby produces more horse racing champions.

You can bet on it.

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