Betting Saturday's Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds

 The prep race season for the 2021 Kentucky Derby started last year with the top two-year old Thoroughbreds competing in a series of major graded races. The biggest race on the board was the annual Breeders' Cup Juvenile in early November.

Fast forward to this Saturday's extended race card at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans and the featured race of the day is one of this year's key Kentucky Derby preps in the month of February.

The $400,000 Risen Star is the next prep at this track leading up the the Louisiana Derby on March 20. Both races are Grade 2 major stakes events but the total prize purse for the Louisiana Derby jumps to $1 million. The three-race prep schedule at Fair Grounds starts with the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes which was previously run on Jan. 16.

The top three colts in that prep race are in the field for Saturday's Risen Star. The winner of the Lecomte will break from the No. 6 post at 6/1 odds on the morning line. Trained by by Steve Asmussen and ridden by jockey Joe Talamo, Midnight Bourbon is my top choice to win Saturday's main event.

Proxy finished second in the Lecomte. Trained by Michael Stidham, the son of Tapit will break from the No. 2 post in the 13-horse field. Veteran jockey John Velazquez adds value to this colt's 10/1 morning line odds to win.

The show horse in the Lecomte was Mandaloun. Trained by Brad Cox, he will break from the outside in gate No. 11 with jockey Florent Geroux on board. This colt actually has the best odds to win among this trio at 9/2.

While the both the place and show horse in the Lecomte have the ability to make things interesting on Saturday, I am going with Mandaloun as my second choice in the Risen Star

Breaking from the No. 5 post at 6/1 odds is Senor Buscador. He is trained by Todd Fincher with jockey Luis Quinonez getting the call. This colt closed out his juvenile season by winning the ungraded Remington Springboard Mile at Remington Park

Given the favorable starting gate, he should get a good jump on the field to work his way into the mix as a high-value show horse in the Risen Star.

2021 Risen Star Official Trifecta Bet

--Midnight Bourbon

--Mandaloun

--Senor Buscador

For additional coverage of this race, please check out my previews and predictions at:

ScoresandStats and Sports Betting Stats.