Saturday is the $400,000 dollar, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

It is this years first prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby to ratchet up the awards and offer a total of 85 qualifying points to the top four finishers.

Those points are distributed on a scale of 50-20-10-5. Which means that the Winner will very likely secure a spot in the Starting Gate for Kentucky Derby 147 on May 1st at Churchill Downs.  

Last year the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star was split into two divisions. This was due to the pandemic cancelling other prep races, so over twenty horses opted for the Risen Star.

This year’s race offers a full and competitive field of thirteen 3-year-olds, highlighted by Lecomte Stakes Winner MIDNIGHT BOURBON, Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Winner KEEPMEINMIND, and the Winner of the Remington Springboard Mile SENOR BUSCADOR. 

The Risen Star, which was named after the 1988 Preakness and Belmont Stakes Winner, anchors the February 13th card that also includes five other Stakes races. It will be televised on the Fox Sports show America’s Day at the Races and has a scheduled Post Time of 7:20.

On Friday the Daily Racing Blog will take a closer look at the entire field of thirteen for 2021’s first Win And You’re In Derby prep race.

So be sure to stop back.