Fair Grounds Picks: Risen Star- Kentucky Derby Prep

The Louisiana road to the Kentucky Derby rolls on Saturday. The running of the Risen Star will grant points to the top finishers. It also serves as a market setter for the Louisiana Derby, the state’s final prep for the first Saturday in May. Weather may be a huge factor on Saturday so prepare to adjust on the fly if races come off the turf and the track runs sloppy.

Full Card Analysis

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Fair Grounds Picks- Race 1

Post: 12:00 PM CT; $65k Allowance going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 10

• #2 LIKE THIS (9-2): Gets the top selection. Likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #10 MACHO BEANIE (5-1): Major player in this race, coming in with good form. Likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #3 KAJUN KARMA (15-1): Price horse and competitive in this spot. Makes sense on speed figures. Been solid in recent starts and ready for a big performance.
• #5 RANCH BADGE (12-1): Price horse and competitive in this spot. Running against decent company. Likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.

Selections: 2 – 10 – 3 – 5

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 2

Post: 12:29 PM CT; $65k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 1/16 m on turf; Entries: 13

• #8 KENTUCKY GHOST (12-1): Price horse and gets the top selection. Likely to have a lot to do in the lane but could get up with a competitive run. Will likely get the right setup in this race.
• #5 SAILING SOLO (6-1): Major player in this race and the class of the field.
• #12 POINT PROVEN (7-2): Major player with good recent form and the top overall power rating in the group.
• #2 AGENT CREED (8-1): Competitive in this spot. Proven ability to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 8 – 5 – 12 – 2

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 3

Post: 12:58 PM CT; $65k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 1/16 m on dirt; Entries: 7

• #3 NASH (9-5): Gets the top selection. Goes out for the Cox barn with Prat in the irons. Solid recent performances and ready for a big one. Bet today’s best Best Bet at BetUS.
• #5 MOONLIGHT (5-2): Major player with good speed figures and proven ability to handle these conditions.
• #1 ETHAN ENERGY (9-2): Probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Runs for the combination of Cox and Geroux.
• #7 TUSCAN SKY (3-1): Should improve off the first start and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 1 – 7

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 4

Post: 1:27 PM CT; $65k Maiden Special Weight going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 16

• #11 WISH CAREFULLY (3-1): Gets the top selection. Should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make a well-timed run at the leaders.
• #6 BENJI STAR (4-1): Should improve off the first start and probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Has good recent form.
• #7 CAUSEWAY BENNY (6-1): Should improve off the first start and probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Solid recent performances.
• #1 HE’S JUST LUCKY (9-2): Should improve off the first start and probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Will get a fair pace scenario.

Selections: 11 – 6 – 7 – 1

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 5

Post: 1:56 PM CT; $65k Allowance going 1 1/16 m on dirt; Entries: 8

• #1 SISTINA CHAPEL (3-1): Gets the top selection. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance and likely to get the right setup.
• #2 NORISKIT NOBISCUIT (15-1): Price horse and competitive. May benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #4 STANDOUTSENSATION (7-2): Competitive and likely to be part of the early pace.
• #3 SPLASH MASTER (6-1): Fringe contender, projected to sit mid-pack and come with one run.

Selections: 1 – 2 – 4 – 3

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 6

Post: 2:25 PM CT; $65k Maiden Special Weight going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 11

• #4 LA LA ROSE (6-1): Should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. Proven ability to handle these conditions.
• #1 BEELIEVE HER (5-1): Major player with good recent form. Has the pedigree to be a contender.
• #10 HARBOR SPRINGS (6-1): Should improve off the first start and is a major player in this race.
• #3 PLUM TRICKY (12-1): Price horse and isn’t without hope. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 10 – 3

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 7

Post: 2:54 PM CT; $65k Maiden Special Weight going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 12

• #11 HIGGINS BOAT (8-1): Gets the top selection. Has been solid in recent starts and ready to run a big one. Projects to sit mid-pack and come with one run. Bet the longshot play of the card at BetOnline.
• #5 AIR IT OUT (12-1): Price horse and a major player in this race. Has the pedigree to be a contender.
• #4 DISCREET MISCHIEF (7-2): Debuts here and is a major player. Will run for the combination of Cox and Geroux. Well bred for this spot.
• #1 PRACTICAL THOUGHT (12-1): Price horse and has a shot in this race. Has the pedigree to be a contender.

Selections: 11 – 5 – 4 – 1

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 8

Post: 3:23 PM CT; $100k Colonel Power S. going 5 1/2 f on turf; Entries: 9

• #5 SOSUA SUMMER (3-1): Gets the top selection. Makes sense on speed figures and shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #3 MINNESOTA READY (4-1): Fringe contender and will run for the combination of Amoss and Rosario. Ready for a big performance.
• #9 MISCHIEVOUS ROGUE (4-1): Running for the minor placings. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #4 JUST MIGHT (7-2): Running for the minor placings. Has been solid in recent starts and ready to run a big one.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 9 – 4

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 9

Post: 3:52 PM CT; $65k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/16 m on dirt; Entries: 10

• #7 EL MAGNIFICO (5-1): Gets the top selection. Likely to be out on or near the lead and will look to hold off the charge to the wire. Runs races good enough to beat this group.
• #1 DJANGO (10-1): Price horse and a major player in this race. Well bred for this spot.
• #6 ANTIQUARIAN (7-2): Should improve off the first start and a fringe contender. Makes sense on speed figures.
• #10 CORNISHMAN (3-1): Should improve off the first start and isn’t without hope. Will run for the combination of Cox and Geroux.

Selections: 7 – 1 – 6 – 10

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 10

Post: 4:21 PM CT; $100k Albert M. Stall Memorial S. going 1 1/16 m on turf; Entries: 13

• #3 CREATIVE CAIRO (7-2): Gets the top selection. Runs races good enough to beat this group and has been running against decent company.
• #13 JOIN THE DANCE (8-1): Major player with solid recent performances. Likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #5 SPIRIT AND GLORY (3-1): Major player in this race and goes out for the Falcone barn with Prat in the irons. May benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #1 WATCH THIS BIRDIE (8-1): Has a shot in this race and shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. Ready to run a big one.

Selections: 3 – 13 – 5 – 1

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 11

Post: 4:50 PM CT; $250k Mineshaft S. Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard going 1 1/16 m on dirt; Entries: 9

• #3 BEST ACTOR (3-1): Gets the top selection. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance and has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #1 RED ROUTE ONE (5-1): Major player in this race. Runs evenly and will get a very fair pace scenario. Goes out for the Asmussen barn with Rosario in the irons.
• #9 SMILE HAPPY (5-1): Major player with really consistent pace figures. Will work well in a moderately paced race.
• #4 GASOLINE (4-1): Competitive in this spot and has been running against decent company. Ready to run a big one.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 9 – 4

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 12

Post: 5:19 PM CT; $175k Fair Grounds S. Presented by Horse Racing Nation going 1 1/8 m on turf; Entries: 12

• #3 STRONG QUALITY (3-1): Gets the top selection. Has been really solid in recent starts and ready to run a big one. Running against decent company.
• #10 BEATBOX (7-2): Major player with good speed figures. Will run for the combination of Devaux and Rosario.
• #2 CHASING THE CROWN (8-1): Has a shot in this race and is the class of the field.
• #8 CAMP HOPE (6-1): Has a shot in this race. Running against decent company and has really consistent pace figures.

Selections: 3 – 10 – 2 – 8

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 13

Post: 5:48 PM CT; $300k Rachel Alexandra S. presented by Fasig-Tipton going 1 1/16 m on dirt; Entries: 7

• #5 ALPINE PRINCESS (7-2): Gets the top selection. Has the top overall power rating in the group. Will run for the combination of Cox and Geroux.
• #7 WEST OMAHA (9-2): Major player with good speed figures. Has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 TARIFA (5-1): Competitive in this spot and will be in with a chance late. Goes out for the Cox barn with Prat in the irons.
• #4 INTRICATE (3-1): Competitive and has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts. Ready to run a big one.

Selections: 5 – 7 – 1 – 4

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 14

Post: 6:17 PM CT; $400k Risen Star S. going 1 1/8 m on dirt; Entries: 12

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• #11 TRACK PHANTOM (7-2): Gets the top selection. May benefit from a hot pace up front and has proven to handle these conditions.
• #6 REAL MEN VIOLIN (8-1): Competitive in this spot and shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. May benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #8 CATCHING FREEDOM (5-1): Competitive in this spot and likely to get the right setup. Has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #5 MOONLIGHT (12-1): Price horse and competitive. Should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well-timed run at the leaders.

Selections: 11 – 6 – 8 – 5

Betting News Horse Racing Coverage

Betting News provides AI generated handicapping tools for all of the major tracks around the country each and every day.

In addition, Betting News will continue to provide in depth analysis of select racing cards throughout the week.

Saturday

• Fair Grounds picks featuring the Grade 2 Risen Star*
• Gulfstream Park picks featuring the Grade 3 Royal Delta Stakes
• Laurel Park picks featuring the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie
• Oaklawn Park picks featuring the Dixie Belle Stakes

Sunday

•  Sunland Park Picks featuring the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby*

Monday

• Santa Anita picks featuring the Tiznow Stakes

*Denotes Kentucky Derby/Oaks Prep

Kentucky Derby Future Prop

Bet on your favorite horse to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby today. Also, check out our analysis of the top of the market in the Derby futures wagers. Bet the Kentucky Derby future pool on Bovada.

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