” Road to the Kentucky Derby”: Risen Star Picks, Full- Card Selections

By Rick Francis —-

The “Road to the Kentucky Derby” heads to New Orleans Fair Grounds Saturday with the seasons first 105 points contest as the 53rd running of the Grade 2 Risen Star headlines a fourteen race card; let’s have a look at the selections.

Race 14) Fasig-Tipton Risen Star S.. FOR THREE YEAR OLDS 1 1/8 Miles Dirt. Purse $500,000

9) Built (Catalano/Saez); nailed at the line here last month in the Lecomte, on what was a SLOPPY track; Hard Spun colt is the “horse for the course”.

4) East Avenue (Walsh/Gaffalione); out of Medaglia d’Oro, makes his sophomore debut following a disastrous start last go in the BC Juvenile; not sure if this distance will be to his liking first go back but will help as he moves forward to the 1st Saturday in May.

2) Jonathan’s Way (Baurer/Ortiz, J.); son of Vekoma rebounded nicely to close out his juve season as he ralled to place in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club; colt will like added distance.

Not to be overlooked in exotics:

6) Seattle Road (Amoss/Pedroza); though he moved up only a placing in last, Quality Road colt made up four lenghts in the Lecomte slop.

12) Vamos Carlitos (Foley/Geroux); rallied to within a length facing pricey OC’s here last month; Catholic Boy colt will need a “prayer” to win this but that’s racing.

Race 1) MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT. 5 1/2 Furlongs Turf. Purse $55,000. FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES 3yo

6) Tempting Cat
9) Funny Lady
2) Kissin Riches
10) Menu Please

Race 2) ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING. 1 1/16 Miles Dirt. Purse $55,000. FOR FILLIES 3yo

5) Golden Gamble
3) Trust Fund Philly
2) California Sunset
1) Pretty Sassy

Race 3) MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT. 1 Mile Dirt. Purse $55,000. For Accredited La Bred Maidens, Fillies 3yo

8) Moonie Pie
2) Rosalba the Wicked
9) The Rain Is Gone
4) Avie Cakes
WATCH # 1) Canal Street

Race 4) MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT. 6 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $55,000. FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES 3yo

3) Velvet Vortex
8) Spying
7) Margarita Daze
9) Sierra November

Race 5) ALLOWANCE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse $55,000.

3) Sand Pipes
7) Sicilian Defense
6) Lost Treasure
11) My Boy Tony

Race 6) MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT. 6 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $55,000. FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES 3yo

8) Unwavering Trust
1) Ahavah
4) Darling Madison
5) Everloving

Race 7) MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT. 6 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $55,000. FOR MAIDENS 3yo

10) Great Moment
1) Valiant Humor
5) Kalahari Dreams
6) Cat Fast
9) Retribution

Race 8) COLONEL POWER STAKES 5 1/2 Furlongs Turf. Purse $100,000

7) Demolition Duke
10) No Nay Hudson
3) Dhabab
4) Gilded Ruler

Race 9) MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT. 1 1/16 Miles Dirt. Purse $55,000. FOR MAIDENS 3yo

1) Only in America
2) Cromwell
3) Coffee Talk
7) Morlock
Upset Special 9) Date the Prince

Race 10) Albert M Stall Stakes F&M 1 1/16 Miles Turf. Purse $100,000

5) Nanda Dea
3) Root Cause
8) Tufani
10) Way to Be Marie

Race 11) Grade 3 Mineshaft S. Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard 1 1/16 Miles Dirt. Purse $250,000

5) Catching Freedom
6) Maycocks Bay
3) Tuscan Sky
7) Batten Down

Race 12) Grade 3 Fair Grounds S. Presented by Horse Racing Nation. 1 1/8 Miles Turf. Purse $175,000

2) Gigante
3) Unit Econmonics
8) Taking Candy
1) What Say Thee

Race 13) Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra S.. FOR FILLIES 1 1/16 Miles Dirt. Purse $300,000

6) Simply Joking
2) Good Cheer
5) Aledean
1) Anonima