HANDICAPPING: GRADE II RISEN STAR, RACHEL ALEXANDRA

By Rick Francis —-

The first of the 85 point Kentucky Derby/Oaks contests kick-off Saturday from Fair Grounds with the runnings of the Grade 2 Risen Star and Rachel Alexandra Stakes; great weather is the forecast.

Race 7) 1&1/16th Mile. Rachel Alexandra S. Grade II. Purse $200,000 FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD
Post Time: 5:05/( 4:05)/ 3:05/ 2:05

Wonder Gadot (4), Casse/Velazquez; lost a game battle in the Silverbulletday here last month; multiple graded stakes winner continues to shine in the a.m.’s; rebounds.

Monomoy Girl (8), Cox/Geroux; missed by a neck in the G2 Golden Rod at Churchill last November snapping her career opening 3-race win streak. Tapizar filly has also been working lights out in prep for this, and no one on the grounds has been hotter than trainer Brad Cox.

Classy Act (3), Calhoun/Castellano; broke her maiden two back over the Fair Grounds turf, followed that effort up with an equally strong main track win against first level OC’s. Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano gets the call today and that could be the difference.

Testing One Two (2), Arceneaux/Saenz; on a 3-race win streak, all at Delta Downs; first time starters arriving from there have performed well here.

Field from the rail out:

1) Actress On Board (Bennett/Pedroza)
2) Testing One Two (Arceneaux/Saenz)
3) Classy Act (Calhoun/Castellano)
4) Wonder Gadot (Casse/Velazquez)
5) She’s a Julie (Asmussen/Lanerie)
6) Heavenly Love (Casse/Leparoux)
7) Patrona Margarita (Calhoun/Hernandez, B)
8) Mon0moy Girl (Cox/Geroux)

Selections: 4, 8, 3, 2

Race 9) 1&1/16th Mile. Risen Star S. presented by Lamarque Ford PRESENTED BY LAMARQUE FORD. Grade II. Purse $400,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS Post Time: 6:03/( 5:03)/ 4:03/ 3:03

Noble Indy (2), Pletcher/Velazquez; colt out of Take Charge Indy exits a gut-check Gulfstream win, an effort that serves him well today; Pletcher has had success here at Fair Grounds.

Instilled Regard (5), Hollendorfer/Castellano; following his second in the G1 Los Al Futurity, Arch colt took to the Fair Grounds course like he owned it, clearing a deep field by almost 4-lengths; there’ll be a stampede at the finish line.

Principe Guilherme (9), Asmussen/Geroux; raced wide throughout in the LeComte and it cost him; connections will have him engaged from the opening of the gates; part of the finish line stampede.

Bravazo (7), Lukas/Stevens; exits a stretch duel win at Oaklawn; Hall of Fame trainer/jock duo can never be overlooked in these spots.

Field from the rail out:

1) High North (Cox/Lanerie)
2) Noble Indy (Pletcher/Velazquez)
3) Givemeaminit (Stewart/Bridgmohan)
4) Snapper Sinclair (Asmussen/Beschizza)
5) Instilled Regard (Hollendorfer/Castellano)
6) Supreme Aura (Stidham/Bravo)
7) Bravazo (Lukas/Stevens)
8) Kentucky Club (Lukas/Graham)
9) Principe Guilherme (Asmussen/Geroux)
10) Ebben (Margolis/Saez)

Selections: 2, 5, 9, 7 Longshot Play 6) Supreme Aura