Weekend Lineup Presented By FanDuel: First 50-Point Kentucky Derby Prep

Saturday

6:48 p.m. - Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds

V V’s Dream will make her sophomore debut in the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Sitting in tenth with 18 points, V V’s Dream will face six rivals including four other fillies in the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard top 20.

Trained by Ken McPeek, V V’s Dream followed up her dominant one-turn mile Pocahontas score at Churchill Downs with a place-finish in the Alcibiades (G1) and a distant third in the Rags to Riches, both run at the Rachel Alexandra distance.

Another talented filly entered in the Rachel Alexandra is Golden Rod (G2) heroine Intricate. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Intricate will be making the first start of her 3-year-old season in the Rachel Alexandra after being on the sidelines since her convincing 5 1 ⁄ 4-length score in the Nov. 25 Golden Rod.

Loaded with a talented barn of 3-year-olds, trainer Brad Cox will take three shots at his third win in the Rachel Alexandra. Untapable-victress Alpine Princess ranks atop the trio in the morning line at 7-2. 

Rachel Alexandra Entries

7:17 p.m. - Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Track Phantom was installed as the 7-2 morning line choice in the 12-horse Risen Star with three-straight victories on his resumé, highlighted by a 2 ¾-length score in the Lecomte and 1 ¼-length victory in the Gun Runner. Jockey Joel Rosario, who was in the saddle in the Lecomte, will have the return-call for the Risen Star and break from post No. 11.

Along with Track Phantom, Asmussen entered eye-catching 10-length maiden special weight winner Hall of Fame in the Risen Star. Hall of Fame is a regally bred son of the 2016 Risen Star winner and Asmussen-trained Gun Runner out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Flag Day. Ricardo Santana Jr. will have the call on Hall of Fame from post 7.

Several of Hall of Fame’s owners have a second chance at glory in the Risen Star with their Remsen Stakes (G2) runner-up Sierra Leone. Trained by Chad Brown, Sierra Leone is set to make his 3-year-old debut after his erratic second-place finish to Dornoch in the Dec. 2 Remsen. For his seasonal bow, Brown has opted to add blinkers and change riders to Tyler Gaffalione. The duo will break from post 4 as the 4-1 second choice on the morning line odds.

Another horse making his 3-year-old debut is Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) hero Honor Marie. Under the care of Whit Beckman, Honor Marie began his career with two victories from just three starts including his professional two-length win in the Kentucky Jockey Club. Honor Marie will break from post 3 under Rafael Bejarano.

Risen Star Entries

Sunday

6:17 p.m. - Sunland Park Derby

Los Alamitos Futurity (Grade 2) runner-up Stronghold was tabbed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the field of eight 3-year-olds set to contest Sunday’s 19th running of the $400,000 Sunland Derby (G3).

Trained by Phil D’Amato, Stronghold jumped on the Road to the Kentucky Derby when he finished a close second behind Wynstock in the Los Alamitos Futurity. The son of Ghostzapper began his career based at Churchill Downs but shipped to D’Amato’s Santa Anita Park string in October. The Sunland Derby will be Stronghold’s first start of his 3-year-old campaign, and he will once again unite with jockey Antonio Fresu from post No. 5.

Another top prospect entered in the Sunland Derby is Kirk and Judy Robison’s Smarty Jones Stakes third-place finisher Informed Patriot. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Informed Patriot finished 2 ¾ lengths back of Catching Freedom in the Smarty Jones Stakes on New Year’s Day at Oaklawn. The son of Hard Spun will have the riding services of Joel Rosario and break from the far outside post 8.

Sunland Derby Entries