For those horseplayers who took a slight detour to focus their betting expertise on the Super Bowl, it’s time to get back to business of picking winners this weekend in Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep races in New Orleans and New Mexico.
Top billing belongs to the Fair Grounds, located three miles north of the Superdome where the Philadelphia Eagles topped the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 (Eagles bettors rejoice!)
Fair Grounds Race Course – Photo Courtesy of www.fairgroundsracecourse.com
Sunland Park also has Derby, Oaks qualifiers Sunday
The $500,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies are the main events on Saturday (Feb. 15). These are the first Derby and Oaks preps offering 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points to the first five finishers, virtually guaranteeing the winner of each a spot in their respective races.
At Sunland Park in New Mexico, Sunday (Feb. 16) is the track’s big day featuring the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby for 3-year-olds and the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, each offering 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.
Here’s a brief look at the fields, with odds, analysis, and picks from our usracing.com handicappers later in the week.
Fair Grounds (Saturday)
Risen Star Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, race 14, post time 7:30 p.m. ET
East Avenue makes his long-awaited 3-year-old debut in a field of 13, each with a chance to solidify their chances as a Kentucky Derby contender.
East Avenue, who stumbled badly at the start of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and finished ninth, drew post 4 under Tyler Gaffalione, has been working steadily for three months under the watchful eye of trainer Brendan Walsh.
The colt won in his debut, then captured to Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland before the BC Juvenile.
Jonathan’s Way won his first two starts, including the Iroquois Stakes (G3), but also fared poorly in the BC Juvenile, finishing seventh. He then ran second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) on Nov. 30. He leaves from post 2 under Jose Ortiz.
Built, winner of the Gun Runner Stakes at the Fair Grounds, ran second in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) over a sloppy track in his 3-year-old debut. He drew post 9 under new rider Luis Saez.
Built is currently eighth on the Derby leaderboard with 20 qualifying points; Jonathan’s Ways is 12th with 15 points; and East Avenue is 19th with 10 points. Others in the field with Derby points include Magnitude (five) and Render Judgment (four).
Rachel Alexandra, 1 1/16 miles, race 13, post time 7 p.m. ET
A field of seven includes a trio of Kentucky Oaks major contenders – Good Cheer, Simply Joking, and Ballerina d’Oro.
Good Cheer comes into the race with a 4-0 record for Godolphin and trainer Brad Cox. Her most recent win came in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on Nov.30. The filly leaves from post 2 under Luis Saez.
Simply Joking won at two turns last out, taking the Silverbulletday Stakes last month by 2 1/2 lengths over Bless the Broken, also entered in the Rachel Alexandra. Jaime Torres rides for trainer Whit Beckman out of post 6.
Ballerina d’Oro, trained by Chad Brown, ran on turf in her first three races, was switched to dirt, and rallied from last of 10 to second (behind unbeaten stablemate Muhimma) in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) on Dec. 7 at Aqueduct.
Good Cheer is fourth with 20 points on the Oaks leaderboard; Simply Joking is sixth with 20 points; and Ballerina d’Oro is 30th with five points.
Sunland Park (Sunday)
Sunland Park Derby, 1 1/16 miles, race 9, post time 6:17 p.m. ET
A field of nine is entered for this Kentucky Derby points qualifier, with Bob Baffert-trained Getaway Car the 9-5 morning-line favorite.
Juan Hernandez has the call leaving from post 4. Getaway Car is 0-for-4 since winning the Best Pal Stakes (G3) in August but has finished second twice – to Journalism in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and to stablemate Citizen Bull in the American Pharoah (G1).
Touchy, trained by Wesley Ward, is the second choice at 7-2. The colt comes off a second-place finish in the Turfway Preview Stakes on Jan. 4. The Nyquist colt will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post 8.
McKinzie Street, trained by Justin Evans, is 4-1. The colt won in his debut, then stepped up into top company has run second in Del Mar Futurity (G1), third in the American Pharoah, third in the Bob Hope Stakes (G3), and fifth last out in the San Vicente Stakes (G2). Ramon Vazquez has the call from post 7.
Sunland Park Oaks, 1-mile, race 7, post time 5:13 p.m. ET
A field of seven will vie for Kentucky Oaks points with Maysam the 9-5 morning-line favorite for trainer Bob Baffert.
Maysam, a $500,000 daughter of Game Winner, did not run as a 2-year-old and won in her debut six lengths at Santa Anita on Jan. 24.
Juan Hernandez has the call leaving from post 4.
Runnin N Gunnin, trained by Steve Asmussen, is the 3-1 second choice. The filly makes her sixth career start, owning a maiden win at third asking and an allowance win at Sam Houston Race Park on Jan. 24.